Greens Preparing Dental Trade-off Deal

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The Australian Green Party is preparing to accept a trade-off deal in order to push through plans for a universal dental scheme.

The Greens were planning to veto a tax increase on wealthy citizens without private medical insurance, worth $170 million, but they have agreed to drop the veto if the government agrees to introduce a new Medicare dental system for those on the lowest incomes.

Senator Richard Di Natale, health spokesperson for the Greens, said that he was prepared to accept the trade-off, provided that the government agrees to bring in the new dental care system for low earners. Senator Di Natale said that he was content to talk to the government about plans for a new Medicare dental system in exchange for reviewing their position on a tax surcharge for the wealthy.

The Greens agreed to join the Labor party in government after Julia Gillard’s party failed to gain the majority vote in the last general election. The party was promised massive investment in dental services if they agreed to join the coalition, but so far, the government has stalled, claiming there is not enough money to fund a universal scheme.

The Greens have put forward ideas for a $5 billion Denticare scheme, which would provide cover for all Australians. The party is proposing to introduce the scheme over the course of a 5 year period, with the lowest earners included first. However, the Prime Minister has hinted that it would be extremely difficult to satisfy the desires of the party due to constraints on the budget.

Senator Di Natale is pushing for the scheme and said that he is determined to see the promise made by the Labor party in 2012 honoured.

 

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