Labor is going to scrap the Coalition's chronic disease dental scheme costing $1.5bn p.a. and replace it with a $bn scheme. That should improve the dental health of those that can't afford it.

There is only one catch:

The abolition of the first scheme is later this year, and the new scheme only starts in mid 2014? This means that the disadvantaged will have no care whatsoever for 18 months or more.

What does labor intend to do in this gap period? or is this simply done to fill the cavity in their budget?

thats funny..in qld i heard...labrats are clearing up two of the libs SCEMES..cutting two biollion..then putting 4 billion..into their sceme

at least the kids get it early..simple fillings..etc
currently howards system's allowed the dying..to finaly get their roitted teeth extracted iout,..via nice expensive root cannal treatments

anyhow the new sceme..will fix the potholes..
not fix roads to no where...howard attacked the wrong end

this is one thing juliar might have right
[plus getting a bonus 2 billion extra..to fil yet otherr holes

see howards was great for those '/inn the know'
who allways seem expert at accesing free govt funds..tax breaks etc

anyhow the 4 billion..dont for the young..will bear more fruits that remidying those near death..WHO SUFFERRD THEIR WHOLE LIFE*

fix the kids..give then pain free govt service*
but one good thing dont fix the truelly vile..both patry patcies deliver to their bosses..[capitalist..privatising govt services..for easy cash..by service charge's...acces fees,.

for what used to be free
govt is SUPPOOSED TO BE THERE FOR YOU
not the big moneyed elite..capitalising on the pepoles impoverishments..

a pox on both ya houses

Smoke and mirrors - it looks and sounds good until you get into the detail of what is actually being done.

And what is being done to cause the smoke and mirrors ?
If you don't have dental health, your whole system can be poisoned.
I understand it can be up to 2 years to get in for any sort of work.
If you are not in extreme pain, you get put on the waiting list.
Surely that system is in need of upgrade.

579,

From November 2012 to June 2014 there will be no waiting lists, as there will be no service what so ever.

I'm certainly no expert on this, but I would imagine that eighteen months is a fairly short period of time in which to get all the aspects of the scheme properly organized.

No government, of any persuasion, can simply announce a policy of this scale on Day 1 and have it fully implemented on Day 2.

Considering the number of dentists out there, the need for the details to be hammered out with their cooperation, and the need to establish rort-proof claims and reimbursement processes to everyone's satisfaction, eighteen months seems quite ambitious to me.

But as we know, a government under Shadow Minister would have it done in a snap. Isn't that right, SM?