Abbott Describes New Dental Scheme as Aspirational
Tony Abbott, leader of the opposition party in Australia, has described new schemes for dental services and insurance for disabled people as aspirational.
Speaking in Canberra, Mr Abbott said that the notions to introduce a new dental scheme and an insurance scheme for disabled people were worthwhile, but it would be impossible to seriously consider either until there is a surplus in the budget.
The first speech of 2012 had been billed as a positive outlook for the future, but Mr Abbott was criticised by the government for being “overtly negative”.
Mr Abbott agreed that new schemes for Medicare funding for dental services and better insurance for disabled people were positive and would be beneficial, but suggested that it was irresponsible to talk about such ventures and get peoples’ hopes up when there is little chance of either scheme being implemented with the country in the current economic state. Mr Abbott said that it would be impossible to consider either scheme until there was a significant surplus in the budget and the economy strengthens.
The government has agreed to take steps towards introducing a more universal dental scheme in this year’s budget. The Greens have been campaigning for better access to dental services since they agreed to join the coalition, when the Labor party failed to gain the majority vote at the general election.
Join this Discussion
