Turnbull The Teeth Snatcher -Children’s Dental Scheme To Be Axed

The Turnbull/Abbott government has attacked the elderly, the sick, indigenous Australians, the disabled and Australian workers. Now the Turnbull/Abbott government is coming after Australian children’s teeth.

Earlier this week the Turnbull/Abbott government confirmed that it is preparing to axe the children’s dental benefits scheme by cutting $125.6 million in funding. This scheme provides eligible children with up to $1000 in dental treatment every two years and provided dental care to more than 1 million children in Australia.

The scheme was initially introduced by the Australian Labor Party after a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare said that 42% of five-year-olds and 61% of nine-year-olds had experienced decay in their baby teeth, and 58% of 14-year-olds had experienced permanent tooth decay.

Around Australia, dentists have said the scheme is excellent and a cost effective way of working through the vast amount of dental treatment that needs doing in children’s mouths.

Speaking to the Labor Herald deputy opposition leader, Tanya Plibersek said: “this government would rather take money away from looking after kids’ teeth then go after multinational tax avoidance;”

This attack on the Children’s Dental Benefit Scheme comes on top of $60 billion in health cuts already announced by the Turnbull/Abbott government.