Dental forum – 1 April 2009
Thanks for the opportunity to speak. The history of dental politics – is one of fine words, often good policies, but a successive failure of political will at Federal and State level to deliver dental health services to all.
The big message of today is that the buck passing between State and Federal has to stop, waiting times on public dental lists must be slashed and the barriers created by private dental care dismantled.
This is an issue my Greens colleagues feel passionate about. We need to approach dental health within a human rights framework.
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has urged the Federal Government to adopt a universal dental scheme funded by an increase in the Medicare levy. This is the Denticare plan that has been put forward by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
The Rudd Labor Government has a stated commitment to assisting low-income people. We know a key to achieving that is a decent federal dental health scheme.
At a Federal level there was a set back under the previous Federal Government which in 1997 ended the Commonwealth Dental Health Program. The result was a sharp decrease in oral health standards among people on low incomes.
Thanks to Alliance we have a way forward.
A key reason to act is to relieve suffering and to provide quality health care to all, but there is also an economic driver here.
Failure to fund and promote dental health programs and treat dental decay as early as possible is a huge cost burden for our society and for those who suffer dental ill health.
The NSW Oral health Alliance is doing fantastic work. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel thanks to their work. But how long will it take us to get to the end of the tunnel.
Politicians in this room will play a key role in bringing equity to oral health.
Knowing what the political game is like we need to learn from past failures.
When it comes to delivering on dental services state Labor ministers have not performed well on dental health issues. Mr Iemma's record as health minister is no better than that of Mr Hatzistergos or Ms Meagher.
In 2005 Mr Iemma commissioned a report to cost and plan for
implementation of an improved NSW Oral Health Service. It was shown that structural improvement could be achieved for minimal cost. But Mr Iemma failed to respond to the report he had requested as health minister. None of the recommendations were implemented.
In 2007 Mr Hatzistergos, who took over from Mr Iemma as health
minister, promised additional resources for new student dentistry
places. The failure of Mr Hatzistergos and his replacement Ms Meagher to deliver on this commitment resulted in Sydney University cutting spots for 30 dental students.
Now the ball is with the current Health Minister John Della Bosca. I am sure he knows there are high expectations of him.
The Greens are not in a position to deliver these programs but we will continue to agitate inside parliament and work with community groups to apply the public pressure that politicians so often need to help them see the light.
Congratulations to the NSW Oral Health Alliance. You have put us all on notice.
Low income and marginalised people have a right to quality oral health. Some may say that the class analysis of society that so many try and bury these days is alive and not very well in dental health.
No delay in delivering dental health care is justified.
