No promise on dental health scheme: Abbott.    :(

Date
    August 30, 2012

     The Age.
AAP

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says extending the dental health scheme is unaffordable and a future coalition government won't do so unless the budget is in a better position.    :(

The federal government announced on Wednesday it would scrap two existing dental schemes and spend $4 billion on a revamped package for low income adults and children aged two to 17, to start in 2014.

One economist has estimated the government will need to find an extra $120 billion to 2020 to fund major policies, including the dental programs, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and a promised school funding boost.

Mr Abbott told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday the existing Medicare-based dental scheme, which he established as health minister in the Howard government, had worked well.    :-?


"I don't think the way to improve dental health is to axe the existing Medicare scheme," he said.

"I would like, when the budget is in much better shape than it is now, to extend that, but at moment we have a diabolical budget position.

"The government has a $120 billion budget black hole because of commitments it has already made."

Mr Abbott said the opposition's budget strategy would be released closer to the election, due in late 2013, which current polling suggests the coalition would win.

But he said the coalition would not be making "a whole range of additional commitments".

"This is a government that has been spending like a drunken sailor and the last thing we want to see is a bad problem get worse," he said.     :(

© 2012 AAP

Yes thanks for that Mr Abbott.  We know you care about the poor people, that cant afford to go to a dentist.     :(

wrote on Aug 30^th, 2012 at 6:26pm:

Yes thanks for that Mr Abbott.  We know you care about the poor people, that cant afford to go to a dentist.     :(

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201011/r681890_5048629.jpg

Abbotts field of expertise is proctology..dentistry doesn't interest him

I suppose it make people think more about who to vote for, when the time comes.  So could this be another nail in the coffin for Mr Abbott?.    :)

wrote on Aug 30^th, 2012 at 6:26pm:

Yes thanks for that Mr Abbott.  We know you care about the poor people, that cant afford to go to a dentist.     :(

Sorry - but poor people's teeth is very low priority.  Got to pay for nannies for women on $150K first.  And give Twiggy Palmheart a tax cut.

You can get good quality dental work in Manila or Bangkok, some excellent clinics. You can have a lovely holiday as well.

Then claim for tax purposes as net medical expenses.

Lynn wrote on Aug 30^th, 2012 at 7:29pm:

You can get good quality dental work in Manila or Bangkok, some excellent clinics. You can have a lovely holiday as well. Then claim for tax purposes as net medical expenses.

Yes. Or even a gender reassignment.

Can the poor afford to go overseas for a holiday, let alone afford a dentist?.     :(

wrote on Aug 30^th, 2012 at 6:26pm:

Yes thanks for that Mr Abbott.  We know you care about the poor people, that cant afford to go to a dentist.     :(

Quote:

[...] TOM IGGULDEN: The Government is closing down a program designed by Tony Abbott when he was Health minister. But even with the scheme's abolition, the Health Minister confirmed the $4 billion price tag for the Government's plans. [...] http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3579028.htm

I caught you out again I'mphukingcrook. You're very lazy when it comes to research.

If it means crushing the Greens & Gillard, tooth ache is a very very small price to pay... ;D ;D