Federal Government confirms limited dental funding

Minister for Health Sussan Ley today announced that the Abbott Government intended to add dental services to its reform agenda for 2015/16, with more-than $200 million in funding for state and territory services to be included in Tuesday’s Budget to allow for reform work to be undertaken over the next 12 months. 

"Unlike Medicare, which the Commonwealth primarily funds, responsibility for funding dental services is spread across the Federal Government, the states and territories and public and private health providers", she said.

"The Abbott Government will seek to undertake much-needed practical reform of the nation’s fragmented dental system to ensure Australians get seamless access to the services they need, no matter who provides them."

Shadow Health Minister Catherine King said "Today's dental health policy "announcement" by the Health Minister is no more than a cruel hoax, and confirmation of yet another Liberal lie on health. Far from spending $200 million, today's announcement is confirmation of a $390 million cut to dental health spending contained in last year's Budget". 

"In his 2013 election health policy, Tony Abbott explicitly committed to funding the Second National Partnership Agreement with the States to shorten adult waiting lists", she said.

Ms King noted that in his 2013 election health policy, Tony Abbott committed to funding the Second National Partnership Agreement with the States to shorten adult waiting lists.

“The Coalition will honour the arrangements under the National Partnership Agreement for Adult Public Dental Services.”
“The Coalition’s Policy to Support Australia’s Health System” August 2013

"Instead, the Budget put the scheme on hold for one year, denying thousands of adults with very poor dental health access to Adult Public Dental Services and cutting $200 million in its first year, and $390 million in total", she said.