The best solar power scheme in the world eh! That is what Australia is to build.
Well..now what about proposing the best dental scheme in the world?
By my estimation by the year 2020 Australia would be a toothless nation...as by then most won't be able to afford costs as associated with oral hygiene as it is presently with many low income earners. It is quite shameful that whilst Australia is enjoying quite a lucrative income from it's resources boom this image of toothlessness is of the prospective.
Which brings me to an idea for a tourism ad campaign in the years to come inkeeping with this image.
It consits of four elderly toothless persons ....say sitting on Bondi Beach..or next to the Opera House..or the Harbour Bridge..or even next to that new solar power scheme...and saying "Come to beautiful Australia" It is of some trepidation that someone will shout ...."Put your teeth in" where the reply shall be" What the hell are....teeth?

Governments are not obliged to live individuals' personal lives for them. That's the road to the slavery and totalitarianism of the welfare state.

We rightly have a safety net for the less fortunate. But how much of their misfortune is their own doing? People want non-essentials that they can't afford and they are prepared to pay for them by going into debt. When it comes to their health - including dental care - they want the government to pay for it.

It's their choice: good health or things they don't really need. Some might think that's "unfair", but that's life.

People like Leigh don't realise that it's in everyone's interests that their fellow citizens remain in good health. Nor do they think about the consequences of their beliefs.

I find it strange that if your heart, liver, pancreas, bones, blood, gut etc needs health care that's OK.

What is special about teeth? It's just another medical speciality.

Except of course if you want to eat something other that soup.

Leigh I suppose you are in favour of the US user pays system where it costs $68,000 for 3 days in hospital. Idiot.

(I can only speak of) Qld's system of health care has been hijacked by bureaucrats. medical staff & operational staff in hospitals are tearing out their hair in frustration due the shortage of funding. an outrageous percentage of the health budget is syphoned off by an army of career bureaucrats for insane super pay-outs, staff development which is of no use to patients and just as insane costly fanciful designer style free staff accommodation. a large percentage of free staff housing is exploited for free holiday accommodation for visiting friends and relatives. remote communities patient transfer too is a huge expense especially when patients miss their flights & the flight has to be re-booked & paid for again by the taxpayer.
i am amazed at how much funding is made available for the personal whims of bureaucrats who, when put under scrutiny, can't even offer an explanation in their defence. they can simply opt for total silence without fear of reprisal. if an officer is suspected of misconduct he/she get promoted away from the area. yes promoted, not even moved sideways. code of conduct means to pull into line with the bureaucrats. one has to look after # 1 but one could easily be made to belief that patient care is priority # 3.

Don't forget that there are valid options other than spending more on treatment. Queensland could substantially improve dental health by making municipal water fluoridation compulsory. Banning the sale of highly addictive decay causing food and drink would substantially improve dental health, as well as greatly reduce obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer incidence. Unfortunately, the right of businesses to profit from the sale of these addictive substances rates far more highly with government than the right of addicts to enjoy better health. In Australia, the right of sugar addicts to destroy their health with the myriad of addictive substances legally available is known as free choice.

Point a finger of blame by all means, but at least point it in the right direction. Marketing is based on statistical analysis. Understandably, marketers seem more interested in how much of their product will sell, not what it will do to the health of the consumers.