Jordon Steele-John's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
type: channel
language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2026-02-05T22:06:02+00:00
items: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates
items: Bondi Beach: Attack | Condolences | Senate debates
items: g195.1
items: People with Disability: Education | Statements by Senators | Senate debates
items: Aged Care Act 2024 | Motions | Senate debates
items: Report No. 2 of 2025-26 | Auditor-General's Reports | Senate debates
items: National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee; Report | Committees | Senate debates
items: Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; In Committee | Bills | Senate debates
items: Medicare | Adjournment | Senate debates
items: International Relations: Australia and the United States of America | Statements by Senators | Senate debates
items: Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates
items: Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025, Superannuation Guarantee Charge Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates
items: Climate Change | Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers | Senate debates
items: Health Care | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
items: Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates
items: Medicare: Dental Health | Statements by Senators | Senate debates

Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates
type: item
description: On 14 December, two individuals undertook a cowardly act at Bondi Beach. Their aim was to terrorise and to murder Jewish Australians as they gathered to celebrate Hanukah. From the moment that...
encoded: On 14 December, two individuals undertook a cowardly act at Bondi Beach. Their aim was to terrorise and to murder Jewish Australians as they gathered to celebrate Hanukah. From the moment that the first gunshot was fired, so many lives were changed forever. I won't repeat in full what I said in my condolence speech yesterday; however, I will emphasise this: such attacks leave scars that will last generations. They leave an empty chair at the dinner table. They leave wounds on bodies and hearts. They leave moments and memories that will never be able to be made. It is a cruelty to lose those we love to acts such as this, acts that should have never taken place. We must not let the actions of these two men define entire religious, ethnic and racial groups. As politicians, we have a responsibility to act. We must strengthen our laws so that what happened that Sunday can never happen again. It is our responsibility to counter racism and hatred in all of its forms. And in this moment of deepest grief, we must be shoulder to shoulder with one another. The Australian Greens supported the recall of parliament. We supported the establishment of a royal commission to identify what went wrong and what must change, whether in our hate speech laws, our gun laws, our intelligence agencies. We owe it to the victims, their families and the whole community to make sure that this never happens again. I will turn my contribution now to the need for gun law reform. We must close the loopholes in our gun laws that allowed these terrorists to legally access rapid reload weapons. Many of us look at the gun violence pandemic in the United States in horror. We are rightly proud of Australia's gun laws. We are rightly proud of the reforms that were enacted nearly 30 years ago, in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre. And because gun violence is not so widespread here, some people assume that our laws must already be strong enough. The reality is that, as of December 2025, there are more…
date: 2026-01-20T17:25:00+00:00

Bondi Beach: Attack | Condolences | Senate debates
type: item
description: Today I add my voice to this condolence motion for the 15 people who were murdered in an antisemitic act of terror on 14 December at Bondi Beach. For those of us from the west, our connection to...
encoded: Today I add my voice to this condolence motion for the 15 people who were murdered in an antisemitic act of terror on 14 December at Bondi Beach. For those of us from the west, our connection to the golden sands of Bondi beach is often shaped by television shows and photographs, with images of rolling surf, glistening pools and endless summer days. While I've never been to Bondi Beach myself, those of us who've grown up on the coast know its sounds and rhythms well: kids laughing as they run into waves, the sound of a sandcastle being knocked flat and the quiet peace of a stroll and dinner by the water as the sun goes down. This place, cared for by traditional owners for tens of thousands of years, reflects something deep in the Australian story—a promise of belonging, of freedom and of shared space that is meant to be safe for everyone. On Sunday 14 December that promise was shattered. At 6.42 pm, during a Hanukkah celebration, two men brought hate, violence and weapons to a place of joy and community. Fifteen people were murdered and more than 40 physically injured. Countless others witnessed and were traumatised by unimaginable horror. The pain that friends and families feel right now—what they are experiencing—is beyond words. To lose someone that you love in such a senseless and brutal way is a grief that no-one should have to carry. I extend my deepest condolences for those who were killed to their families and their friends and to all those who will live with the physical and emotional injuries for the rest of their lives. In the darkness of that night, extraordinary courage began to emerge. There were stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. To me, they are simply the best of us—strangers shielding children on a beach, surfers helping people paddle to safety, lifeguards carrying the injured, first responders acting before emergency services arrived, members of the public confronting the gunmen, hospital staff working through the night and peopl…
date: 2026-01-19T14:28:00+00:00

g195.1
type: item
title: Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025, National Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2025, Environment Information Australia Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Restoration Charge Imposition) Bill 2025; In Committee | Bills | Senate debates
description: Today, I am proud that our parliament is passing long-awaited reforms to environmental laws here in Australia—laws that signal improvement, are better than the ones put forward by this...
encoded: Today, I am proud that our parliament is passing long-awaited reforms to environmental laws here in Australia—laws that signal improvement, are better than the ones put forward by this government alone and will provide some relief to many climate campaigners across this country. I am massively grateful to my Greens colleagues in the Senate, who have shown incredible determination in their negotiations to get these concessions from the government. However, these laws still fail to address some of the greatest threats to our environment: climate-polluting corporations and the billionaires who are fuelling our changing climate. For this vote today, I am reflecting on my recent trip to Karratha in WA's Pilbara region, a place of rich Australian history and ground zero for Woodside's Burrup Hub. Guided by elders and custodians, I got to experience our World Heritage listed Murujuga and its ancient rock art. I also saw firsthand the catastrophic impact of industry, devastating First Nations land and eroding the Murujuga rock art. I saw the uninterrupted flame of gas from the Burrup Hub, an open source pouring millions of tons of emissions into the world each year. Following Labor's approval of the North West Shelf expansion, it is estimated that emissions from WA gas exports will reach 15 billion tonnes over their lifetime. This is what happens when we have environmental laws that don't actually protect our environment and do not consider the climate crisis. Above the safety, health and wellbeing of Australians, this government chooses the private industries who gain profit from our land and resources—the private industries who do not pay their fair share of tax, who do not support Australian communities and who do not protect our natural world. It is disappointing that this government refused to negotiate on having environmental laws that would stop new fossil fuel projects in their tracks and protect nature for years to come. These laws presented an opportunity for stro…
date: 2025-11-27T16:21:00+00:00

People with Disability: Education | Statements by Senators | Senate debates
type: item
description: Too many disabled kids are being excluded from our public schools. Just last week, over 900 school bags were laid on the steps of Parliament House in Perth, each carrying the story of a disabled...
encoded: Too many disabled kids are being excluded from our public schools. Just last week, over 900 school bags were laid on the steps of Parliament House in Perth, each carrying the story of a disabled student failed by our public school system or the voice of a teacher pleading for the resources to support them. We have seen this before. In 2022, a similar protest called for an independent review. The review produced 15 urgent recommendations. The government has only fully supported one. What many people may be shocked to learn is this: in WA public schools, it is legally permitted to deny the enrolment of a disabled child. This must change, yet the WA government has still not committed to doing so. We must stop rejecting students because of their disabilities. For students at school, we know that the system isn't providing what they need to succeed. I've heard from parents and from disabled young children that school isn't safe, with bullying, exclusion and ineffective support plans. We need to resource our public schools better. We know that teachers are leaving the profession in unprecedented numbers. They are burnt out, lacking support and underresourced. Our educational assistants are also underpaid while taking on complex behaviour management, supporting disabled students and adapting and adopting curriculum on the fly. Disabled students are being denied the safe, inclusive education that they deserve. Inequitable access to education is a problem in this country, especially in WA. Every student in a public school deserves— (Time expired)
date: 2025-11-25T13:54:00+00:00

Aged Care Act 2024 | Motions | Senate debates
type: item
description: I move: That the question be now put. Question agreed to.
encoded: I move: That the question be now put. Question agreed to.
date: 2025-11-06T16:19:00+00:00

Report No. 2 of 2025-26 | Auditor-General's Reports | Senate debates
type: item
description: I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
encoded: I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
date: 2025-11-06T15:56:00+00:00

Report No. 2 of 2025-26 | Auditor-General's Reports | Senate debates
type: item
description: I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission is the only regulatory body that over 700,000 NDIS participants can...
encoded: I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission is the only regulatory body that over 700,000 NDIS participants can turn to when they experience abuse, neglect and poor-quality service. Yet the commission itself has been neglected and chronically underfunded, left without the basic tools that it needs to both prevent and address abuse and neglect effectively. The result is a commission that is struggling to meet its mandate. This failure is happening entirely on this government's watch. The National Audit Office report highlighted some alarming issues. It brought razor focus to the reality that the quality and safeguards commission is failing on so many fronts. Let us take a look at what the auditor found. The commission, it found, has a flawed decision-making process. It lacks a risk based approach to decision-making—something you would hope to find in a safeguarding commission. The commission's record system is noncompliant. The commission did not have an up-to-date statement of expectations from its minister. Since the release of the audit report, they've scrambled to publish one. Here we are, in 2025. We've had the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. We know the harms that disabled people are subjected to in everyday life, and yet the quality and safeguards commission that is supposed to support disabled people is lacking the absolute basics that you should be able to expect from an institution like this. In 2025, more than a decade after the establishment of the NDIS, this should not be happening. We should all be deeply concerned that the quality and safeguards commission is not adequately resourced to do its job. Participants tell my office that the commission fails in its duty to participants again and again. Participants tell my office that they report to the commission what they are experiencing, and yet there is no consequen…
date: 2025-11-06T15:56:00+00:00

National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee; Report | Committees | Senate debates
type: item
description: I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
encoded: I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
date: 2025-11-06T15:53:00+00:00

Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; In Committee | Bills | Senate debates
type: item
description: by leave—I move: SHEET 3439 (1) Clause 11, page 17 (after line 3), after paragraph 11(j), insert: (ja) promoting research in relation to public health matters, including by: (i) developing...
encoded: by leave—I move: SHEET 3439 (1) Clause 11, page 17 (after line 3), after paragraph 11(j), insert: (ja) promoting research in relation to public health matters, including by: (i) developing and maintaining close relationships with key public health research entities; and (ii) providing advice to research funding entities on research priorities for public health matters; (jb) promoting public health workforce expertise; (2) Clause 12, page 17 (line 13), omit "to (j)", substitute "to (jb)". _____ SHEET 3440 (1) Page 63 (after line 21), after clause 77, insert: 77A Annual pandemic preparedness and climate reporting The annual report prepared by the Director-General and given to the Minister under section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 for a period must include an assessment of the following in relation to the period (including as compared to any previous such periods): (a) Australia's pandemic preparedness; (b) the impacts of climate change on health for Australians. _____ SHEET 3441 (1) Clause 5, page 5 (after line 8), after the definition of Director-General, insert: disability has the same meaning as in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. (2) Clause 30, page 28 (after line 24), after subclause (3), insert: (3A) The Minister must ensure that at least one appointed member is a person with a disability who has expertise, qualifications or experience in the health needs of people with disability. _____ SHEET 3443 (1) Clause 11, page 16 (after line 23), after subparagraph (11)(h)(vii), insert: (viia) bodies whose objects include the prevention and management of occupational exposures and injuries; (viib) bodies whose objects include the prevention and control of infection; (viic) bodies representing people with disability; (viid) bodies whose objects include research into, and the management of, the health needs of people with disability; These amendments, when taken together, substantially strengthen the Centre for Disease Contro…
date: 2025-11-05T11:05:00+00:00

Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; In Committee | Bills | Senate debates
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description: I'm seeking the call to move a couple of amendments The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Let me just check precisely what stage we're at, senators.
encoded: I'm seeking the call to move a couple of amendments The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Let me just check precisely what stage we're at, senators.
date: 2025-11-05T11:05:00+00:00

Medicare | Adjournment | Senate debates
type: item
description: I want to talk about the government's bulk-billing changes that came into effect over the weekend. Back in February, the health minister told Australians the new incentive would mean that some...
encoded: I want to talk about the government's bulk-billing changes that came into effect over the weekend. Back in February, the health minister told Australians the new incentive would mean that some 4,800 clinics would be fully bulk-billing and that more people would not pay out-of-pocket costs. Are we expecting huge changes to the availability of bulk-billing now that the new incentive has been launched? It looks like probably not. Under the new scheme, GPs and their practices can choose to be fully bulk-billing in order to get an incentive payment, but many GP practices have stated they won't be able to sign up. Pre 1 November, out of roughly 6,500 GP clinics nationwide, about 1,600 were fully bulk-billing clinics. According to the government's own data, released on Monday, just 622 of Australia's 4,720 metropolitan practices planned to change from mixed billing to bulk-billing once the changes are in place. This means that only 13 per cent of metro GP clinics will offer fully bulk-billed services to their patients as a result of this change. So for anyone in a metro area heading in to see their GP for an appointment any time soon, odds are you will still pay out of pocket. The government has said that this plan will fix the system. But, in reality, in its current form, it is barely making a dent. For most people, especially in our suburbs and in our cities, this means still paying some $80 or more to see a GP. People are putting off care, waiting until they are sicker or ending up in hospital because they can't afford basic check-ups. The expanded incentives scale down for metro areas, meaning that the majority of Australians—those living in cities and large towns—may not see much of a difference at all for quite some time. Let's be clear. The overwhelming majority of doctors want to bulk-bill. They want to care for people without worrying about costs, but they can't keep their doors open on rebates that don't even cover basic costs. The RACGP has been sounding the ala…
date: 2025-11-04T19:38:00+00:00

International Relations: Australia and the United States of America | Statements by Senators | Senate debates
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description: Over the past six months, we have seen a violent shift in the United States, a shift that should worry every single one of us—armed troops occupying cities like Los Angeles, Washington, DC,...
encoded: Over the past six months, we have seen a violent shift in the United States, a shift that should worry every single one of us—armed troops occupying cities like Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and Chicago; and citizens detained without trial and deported to foreign prisons. The President of the United States is weaponising the justice system and punishing his political opponents simply for dissenting. We continue to see reckless warmongering with countries like Canada, Mexico and, now, Nigeria. President Trump has even called for the US to start immediately testing nuclear weapons delivery systems. If any other country did this, there would be outrage from this place. These are clear violations of human rights and of international law, but, because it is the US, our government stays silent. They are more interested in protecting a political pact to send hundreds of billions of Australian funds to the United States through AUKUS, rather than investing in our hospitals, our schools or literally anything else. Our government clings to the hope that billions of our dollars will get us a handful of nuclear submarines. President Trump is not known for keeping his promises, just ask the investors in his failed businesses or the workers he has underpaid. It is time for this government to wake up, stop pretending this is normal, cancel AUKUS while we still can and— (Time expired)
date: 2025-11-04T13:54:00+00:00

Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates
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description: I am so pleased to speak to the Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025. At the outset, I would like to thank my incredible team for their support and guidance as we've considered this...
encoded: I am so pleased to speak to the Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025. At the outset, I would like to thank my incredible team for their support and guidance as we've considered this bill in detail. The Greens have long called on successive governments to establish a centre for disease control, one that is independent, well-funded and appropriately resourced to meet the needs of our Australian community. Like so many nations around the world, we have come to confront a moment in time where a structure such as this is deeply needed. In establishing a centre for disease control, we will join countries including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The Australian public health community have been advocating for one here at home for many, many years. Many in that community will be proud and perhaps a little relieved that we are finally here today with a bill before the Senate to establish Australia's own Centre for Disease Control from 1 January 2026. The Australian CDC, led by a director-general and an advisory council, will fill a longstanding gap in our public health infrastructure. It will provide advice to government and to the public on a wide range of health matters and serve as a national coordinator for public health data—a critical role that has been missing for far too long. It is my hope that, in the establishment of a CDC, we will see the delivery of greater visibility, understanding and research across key areas of public health—all the better to support the health and wellbeing of our communities. Over the past five years, our health systems have been pushed to their limits. Reviews, reports and lived experience have all made it crystal clear: Australia must strengthen its public health infrastructure. That includes improving pandemic preparedness, enhancing data sharing between the Commonwealth and the states and the territories, and building a nationally coordinated response to growing health impacts, particularly those of climate…
date: 2025-11-04T12:49:00+00:00

Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025, Superannuation Guarantee Charge Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates
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description: It's been a genuinely interesting experience to listen to the contributions of senators this evening on this important legislation, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025...
encoded: It's been a genuinely interesting experience to listen to the contributions of senators this evening on this important legislation, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025 and related bill. I would particularly like to associate my remarks this evening with the remarks of Senators McKim and Pocock and put on the record my support for the amendment moved by my colleague Senator Barbara Pocock of South Australia in relation to the payment of superannuation to those below the age of 18. As the Greens spokesperson for youth affairs, I've heard from many young people across my home state of Western Australia and across the country about the real challenges and struggles of young people right now, confronting the reality of the cost-of-living crisis. Last week I shared with the chamber an individual's story shared with me as part of the Raise Our Voice Australia campaign, where they outlined very clearly the challenges of being a young person trying to make ends meet when age based wage discrimination in Australia is a reality. And I would take that argument further. It is a shame upon us that, right now, young people in Australia who are below the age of 18 are often not paid their super. They have to jump through these additional hoops to be able to get the super that should rightly be theirs. It's. quite frankly, ridiculous that in Australia in 2025 a person who is below the age of 18 needs to work-30 plus hours for one employer to be able to qualify for the provision of superannuation. Anybody who has taken a moment to look at the dynamics of work among that particular age cohort knows that if you are below the age of 18, you are much more likely to work for multiple employers in part-time positions as you seek to make ends meet and to find yourself fully employed. So I very much support Senator Pocock's amendment and would commend it to the Senate. I want to mention two other groups here in relation to superannuation and this bill—firstly, disab…
date: 2025-11-03T19:36:00+00:00

Climate Change | Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers | Senate debates
type: item
description: For years, we have been gearing up for a long-overdue reform of Australia's environmental laws—a reform that should reflect the urgency of the climate crisis. Yet this government has...
encoded: For years, we have been gearing up for a long-overdue reform of Australia's environmental laws—a reform that should reflect the urgency of the climate crisis. Yet this government has proposed a profoundly disappointing set of so-called reforms. These proposed laws are weaker than the ones that we already have and risk taking us backwards. Many in our community would find it appalling that this government continues to prioritise corporations over our environment. Labor's decision to greenlight the North West Shelf gas extension to 2070 makes it crystal clear that this government refuses to confront the long-term consequences of its choices. These new laws won't stop new coal or gas projects. The government is failing to stop the source of the climate destabilisation and it is failing to chart a clear and credible pathway for transition. Just last month, I attended the release of a groundbreaking report showing just how Western Australia can reduce its emissions and manage energy demands across major industries—a science based pathway to align WA with the Paris Agreement's 1.5 degrees target. But this wasn't commissioned by government. No, it came from Greenpeace and the environmental sector. The people are doing the work which our governments should be leading. Instead, both WA and federal Labor continue to pander to fossil fuel giants, ignoring the economic and environmental realities that are right before our eyes. This is not a time for denial. It is a time for strategic, bold action, a time for a transition to a cleaner economy—one that is fairer for people and puts the planet first. For those who still believe that Australia is a negligible contributor to this problem, let me say this: Australia is one of the world's biggest gas exporters. Our per person greenhouse gas emissions are amongst the highest on planet Earth. Our fossil fuel exports have already pumped 30 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere since the 1960s, and we are on track to add another 15 b…
date: 2025-11-03T16:07:00+00:00

Health Care | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
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description: () (): Many in the community will find that kind of response frustrating, given that we know that longer consultations are the reality of what is required from so many general...
encoded: () (): Many in the community will find that kind of response frustrating, given that we know that longer consultations are the reality of what is required from so many general practitioners—particularly for mental health consultations, which are the overwhelming majority of consults done by GPs now. Will Labor commit to properly funding community healthcare centres, like cohealth in Victoria, so that they can continue to provide the care that is needed? (Time expired)
date: 2025-10-30T15:19:00+00:00

Health Care | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
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description: Many in our community need longer appointments to get wraparound care for complex health conditions, yet the government refuses to lift rebates to support this model of care. Minister, when will...
encoded: Many in our community need longer appointments to get wraparound care for complex health conditions, yet the government refuses to lift rebates to support this model of care. Minister, when will your government listen to GPs and lift the rebate for longer consultations?
date: 2025-10-30T15:18:00+00:00

Health Care | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing. Minister, people across the country are struggling to access affordable health care right now....
encoded: My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing. Minister, people across the country are struggling to access affordable health care right now. Out-of-pocket costs are continuing to rise, and community healthcare centres, including cohealth in Victoria, are closing their doors. Minister, why are community healthcare centres closing under Labor state and federal governments?
date: 2025-10-30T15:16:00+00:00

Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates
type: item
description: This omnibus bill, the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025, seeks to make changes to the process for claiming a private health insurance rebate. The private...
encoded: This omnibus bill, the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025, seeks to make changes to the process for claiming a private health insurance rebate. The private health insurance rebate enables, as we know, eligible people to have the cost of their private health insurance subsidised by the government. Right now, the IT systems responsible for administering these rebates simply can't meet the expectations set out in the legislation, so this bill will update the law to better align with what the system can actually deliver. The Greens have been clear on our position in relation to private health insurance. Our priority, in our view, is that we should be improving and strengthening our public health system. However, while there remains a private health structure in Australia, we see the need and the value in aligning these systems. Let me move to the issue of head and neck cancer. I would like to take the opportunity presented by this legislation to talk about an issue that I am incredibly passionate about: access to affordable oral and dental health care, particularly to dental prosthetics for people who have undergone treatment for head, neck and oral cancers. Head, neck and oral cancers can cause significant damage to a person's mouth and oral health. In some people, this might be through the removal of parts of the face or mouth, such as their lips or gums. For others, the radiation treatment around the head area can cause permanent damage to the salivary glands, which play a crucial role in keeping the mouth healthy. If it were any other type of cancer that we were talking about, Medicare would cover the post-treatment rehabilitation, including prosthetics. But, because we are talking about cancers of the head, mouth or neck, these prosthetics and that rehabilitation aren't covered by Medicare. Instead, cancer patients need to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket for it. We have heard of people having to mortgage their h…
date: 2025-10-30T12:19:00+00:00

Medicare: Dental Health | Statements by Senators | Senate debates
type: item
description: Australians are rightly proud of our healthcare system. For decades, Medicare has been a lifeline for millions of people, giving access to life-saving cancer treatments, surgeries and essential...
encoded: Australians are rightly proud of our healthcare system. For decades, Medicare has been a lifeline for millions of people, giving access to life-saving cancer treatments, surgeries and essential health care when needed. At its heart, Medicare is built on two fundamental principles: universality and comprehensive coverage. But, sadly, these very principles are under threat. Successive governments from both major parties have cut funding, failed to expand coverage and allowed out-of-pocket costs to soar. As a result, too many people in our community are being forced to try to find other ways to pay for vital, often urgent, medical treatment. For some, that means draining their superannuation, maxing out credit cards, turning to buy-now pay-later schemes or relying on predatory lenders that sometimes charge up to 47 per cent interest. No-one wants to do this, but it's what people are having to resort to because the government has failed to invest in our healthcare system. Last year, more than 63,000 people in Australia withdrew some $1.4 billion from their superannuation just to cover medical costs—$817 million of that amount was for dental care alone. We are in a cost-of-living crisis. Going to the dentist is completely and wildly unaffordable. Even the most basic dental treatment is out of reach. People are being forced to raid their financial future to pay for essential health care. We know that when you take money out of your super you don't just lose the amount that you need to withdraw; you lose the compound growth that it would have earned over your working life. That means that every dollar withdrawn today could cost you twice as much, if not more, in retirement. No-one should have to drain their superannuation to access health care. Labor must reform dental care so that it is affordable and accessible for everyone. As this gap in public health coverage continues to widen, capitalism's worst actors are moving in. We're talking about predatory lenders, profiteeri…
date: 2025-10-29T12:30:00+00:00