Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Moore for her question. The Labor Party has a very strong record when it comes to dental health. In August 2012 the government announced a $4.1 billion package of dental health reform. There are a number of elements in this package designed to target the dental health of people, particularly those in need. There will be $2.7 billion allocated to fund basic dental treatment for eligible children and teenagers from 1 January 2014. It includes $1.3 billion for states and territories to expand services for adults in the public dental system from 1 July 2014. There will be $225 million allocated for a flexible grants program in 2014 to provide dental infrastructure in outer metropolitan, rural and regional areas, where we know that the dental health of the community is not to the level of the whole population. Around 3.4 million eligible children and teenagers between the ages of two and 17 will receive $1,000 over a two-year period for basic dental services such as check-ups, X-rays, fillings and extractions.

Further, the government has entered into a national partnership agreement with all states and territories to provide more public dental services. There has been $345.9 million provided to states and territories over three years to provide dental services to eligible concession card holders. Over $1.3 billion will be provided over four years to states and territories, under the national partnership agreement, to expand services for up to 1.4 million low-income adults in the public dental system. There will also be $450,000 provided over three years to support the provision of pro bono dental services to disadvantaged groups. (Time expired)