Children across the Illawarra will continue to get access to dental services after Labor blocked the proposed axing of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The CDBS provides eligible children with up to $1,000 in dental services every two years, with a strong focus on preventive care.
Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird said Labor protected the CDBS by removing it from the government’s omnibus legislation.
Ms Bird said Malcolm Turnbull’s plan would have forced more than five million children onto long public dental waiting lists.
"It was absolutely incredible that the Liberals could even consider giving massive tax cuts for big business while cutting basic dental services for children,” Ms Bird said.
Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones said recent figures revealed around 17,000 families across the Illawarra and Southern Highlands could be eligible for the CDBS scheme. “The local impact of this back down is very significant,” Mr Jones said.
“Labor fought to save this important scheme that ensures all kids will continue to get access to a basic level of dental care.”
“If Labor hadn’t taken this stand, more than five million Australian children would have been pushed off onto the public dental waiting list which would have seen them waiting months, maybe years, for simple preventative dental care.”
The National Partnership Agreement on adult public dental services has also been maintained.
