The unveiling and formal tabling of the Federal Budget tonight by the Turnbull Government has revealed that funding once again will be insufficient to meet the oral health needs of the Australian public.
ADA President Dr Hugo Sachs and Deputy CEO Eithne Irving attended the Treasury and Health Budget lockups respectively, reporting that tonight’s budget delivered no surprises for dentistry. Here’s how things unfolded.
Portfolio budget statements
Disappointed with the government’s commitment to oral health, Dr Sachs explained, “We’ve been told what we already know. The portfolio budget statements confirm the increase in the Child Dental Benefits Schedule cap for eligible families from $700 to $1000 which is simply reverting to the original cap amount when the scheme was first introduced – something the ADA had to fight tooth and nail to retain.”