The Greens have announced an election policy that would put dental work on Medicare, and they want Australia's richest to pay for it.
Greens leader Adam Bandt said that if the party holds the balance of power after the polls close on May 21 they plan to make free dental care a top priority for the country.
According to the Guardian, the political party will pay for the $7.5 billion policy by introducing a 6 per cent additional tax on billionaires and a corporate ‘super profits tax’.
Mr Bandt says they have a good track record in this realm after they successfully negotiated a $4 billion reform dental package for low-income families in 2010.
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The Greens leader said during his address to the National Press Club today (April 13): "Last time the Greens were in the balance of power we got dental into Medicare for kids, and now we'll finish the job by getting dental into Medicare for everyone.
"The best way to tackle the rising cost of living is to make healthcare and housing cheaper, not one-off handouts that get eaten up by inflation.
"People will be better off if dental is in Medicare."
The policy will cover the cost of dental care, orthodontic treatment, oral surgeries, periodontics and prosthodontics for 10 years starting in July next year.
“The money is there to pay for these plans if we have the guts to take on the billionaires and big corporations,” Bandt said.
“Labor agrees with Liberals that workers should get a one-off payment of $420 but billionaires should get a tax cut of $9,000 a year, every year, for ever, but the Greens want something different.
"The Greens will introduce a billionaires tax, which will tax the growing list of 131 billionaires in Australia 6 per cent of their wealth every year."
Mr Bandt even pointed the finger towards the chairman of the United Australia Party and billionaire Clive Palmer.
“The Greens will make Clive Palmer pay more tax so you can fix your teeth," he said.
The proposed policy will also expand the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), making kids eligible for an unlimited amount of dental care, while Medicare recipients' payments would be bulk billed.
The Greens leader also said prioritising mental health, housing affordability and ‘wiping’ student debt were also on the party's list of demands.
Topics: Australia
Charisa Bossinakis