More than $77 billion worth of dental care will be covered by Medicare if the Greens hold the balance of power after the next election, leader Adam Bandt says.
The plan will enable Australians to receive Medicare-funded dental care and orthodontic treatment as well as oral surgeries, periodontics and prosthodontics.
Mr Bandt will use a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday to spruik the party’s policy and unveil its cost.
“Last time the Greens were in the balance of power we got dental into Medicare for kids, and now we’ll finish the job by getting dental into Medicare for everyone,” Mr Bandt said.
“In balance of power, the Greens will tackle the cost of living by getting dental and mental health into Medicare, fixing the housing affordability crisis and wiping student debt.”
The plan, which will cost $77.6 billion over the decade – or around $8 billion a year – will be funded by taxes on billionaires and large corporations.
Its builds on the $5.8 billion pledge the Greens brought to the 2019 election which would have provided Medicare-funded dental care to all young people, aged pensioners, full benefit recipients and concession card holders.
The party is proposing a six per cent tax on the wealth of Australia’s more than 130 billionaires and a corporate “super profits tax”, which will force businesses to hand over profits after they make $100 million.
“The Greens will make Clive Palmer pay more tax so you can fix your teeth,” Mr Bandt said.
At the last election, the Greens scored 10.4 per cent of the national primary vote, retaining Mr Bandt’s lower house seat of Melbourne.
They also won Senate seats in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and WA.
The latest Morgan poll has the Greens on 12.5 per cent of the primary vote.
