ALP Dental Policy
The ALP candidate for Indi, Zuvele Leschen, today welcomed Kevin Rudd’s announcement that the Commonwealth public dental health scheme would be reintroduced under a Labor Government.
“I have been campaigning for the reintroduction of this scheme since it was axed in 1996,” Zuvele said.
The Federal Government introduced a subsidy for public dental health in 1994, to address the backlog of low income patients waiting for dental care. The scheme was abolished by the Howard Government in 1996, with the Government claiming at the time that it was no longer necessary.
“I predicted then that the waiting lists would blow out again, and they did very quickly,” Zuvele Leschen said today. “In April 1999, when I raised the issue again, the waiting list in Wangaratta reached 2745 people.”
“Now, Australia wide, there is a waiting list of 650,000 people.”
“As health card holders, these people would find it very difficult to afford private dental services.”
Mrs Leschen said that she had also campaigned within the Labor Party for the system to be reintroduced, making submissions to various policy inquiries over the years.
“Most recently, as President of the Victorian Country Labor Executive, I had an opportunity to submit policy suggestions to the Federal Labor Party,” Zuvele said. “The restoration of a Commonwealth funded public dental health system was on that list.”
“I welcome the Rudd Government’s scheme and will continue to advocate for improved dental health services for the people of Indi.”
“I have been campaigning for the reintroduction of this scheme since it was axed in 1996,” Zuvele said.
The Federal Government introduced a subsidy for public dental health in 1994, to address the backlog of low income patients waiting for dental care. The scheme was abolished by the Howard Government in 1996, with the Government claiming at the time that it was no longer necessary.
“I predicted then that the waiting lists would blow out again, and they did very quickly,” Zuvele Leschen said today. “In April 1999, when I raised the issue again, the waiting list in Wangaratta reached 2745 people.”
“Now, Australia wide, there is a waiting list of 650,000 people.”
“As health card holders, these people would find it very difficult to afford private dental services.”
Mrs Leschen said that she had also campaigned within the Labor Party for the system to be reintroduced, making submissions to various policy inquiries over the years.
“Most recently, as President of the Victorian Country Labor Executive, I had an opportunity to submit policy suggestions to the Federal Labor Party,” Zuvele said. “The restoration of a Commonwealth funded public dental health system was on that list.”
“I welcome the Rudd Government’s scheme and will continue to advocate for improved dental health services for the people of Indi.”
Powered by ScribeFire.
posted by Greg Naylor at
9:25 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home