The Australian Greens have said their election pitch to add dental into Medicare could save residents in the federal electorate of Richmond at least $116 million in its first year.
With polls suggesting a 98% likelihood of a minority Parliament, the seat of Richmond will be critical to the outcome.
Under the plan - which would see dental care ranging from cleaning and filling to dentures and orthodontic work covered by Medicare - an individual could save around $978 dollars in the first year, while a family with two adults and two children could save around $2,656.
The Greens say the cost-of-living measure would be paid for by taking on big corporations through the party's previously announced Big Corporations Tax.
Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt, is in Richmond this week campaigning with Greens candidate Mandy Nolan, a seat where the Greens only need a 1.8% swing to win.
In the 2022 election, the Greens came within a whisker of winning Richmond. And since early 2023, Nolan has been running a strong people-powered campaign.
Bandt said with the cost-of-living smashing people across the Richmond electorate, and the average cost for a standard dental check-up in NSW nearing $300 dollars, the Greens' plan to put dental into Medicare could be life-changing for some.
He added that the plan would be a key demand pushed in any power-sharing Parliament negotiations after the next election.
In the power-sharing Parliament of 2010, the Greens secured dental into Medicare for children.
Key background information on the Greens' plan to put dental into Medicare:
- Under the Greens' plan, all items identified in the Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary will be covered, ranging from cleaning, filling, to dentures and orthodontic work.
- The provision of universal access to dental services was a key recommendation of the bipartisan Select Committee on the Provision of and Access to Dental Care Services in Australia.
- 97% of the 17,544 respondents to this Senate Inquiry agreed that the government should make more dental healthcare free.
- Despite promising to expand dental access to seniors in 2019, and universal dental care being in Labor's platform, the government has retreated from these reforms.
- Independently costed by the PBO, the policy would cost $46b over the forward estimates.
- The Greens' plan to tax the excessive profit of big corporations will raise $514b over a decade.
As stated by Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:
"When the Greens were last in a power-sharing Parliament in 2010, we got dental into Medicare for kids.
"If the Greens' Mandy Nolan is elected, we'll push to get dental into Medicare for everyone.
"Under Labor and the Coalition, 1 in 3 big corporations pays no tax. By making big corporations pay tax, we can fund dental into Medicare.
"More than half of Australians have put off dental care in the past year, with a majority saying it was due to cost. In a wealthy country like ours, no-one should be going without the healthcare they need.
"Nothing changes if nothing changes. If you want change, you have to vote for it. If you want a powerful voice in Parliament to tackle the rising cost of living and get dental into Medicare, vote for the Greens' Mandy Nolan."
As stated by Australian Greens candidate for Richmond, Mandy Nolan:
"The cost-of-living crisis means many people are choosing to have teeth removed rather than getting the dental work they need. A dental emergency can be life-threatening, particularly for the elderly and those with chronic conditions."
"The original dream for our Medicare system included dental. The Greens plan will make that vision a reality, and literally put a smile on everyone's face."
