Just as we are being warned of an epidemic in children’s dental health, Malcolm Turnbull is going to make visiting the dentist even more expensive.

The Turnbull Government is about to scrap support for kids to visit the dentist provided under the Child Dental Benefits Scheme.

Labor initiated the Child Dental Benefits Scheme when in Government, after receiving disturbing evidence about the poor dental health of Australian children.  The scheme provides eligible children with up to $1,000 in dental treatment every two years.

So far, one million children have received treatment under the program.

“With such a young and growing population in Greenway, this is yet another blow to local families”, said Michelle Rowland, Federal Member for Greenway.

“Families are telling me that cost of living remains their biggest single concern.  This latest announcement to scrap assistance for their children’s dental care comes on the back of the recent hike in private health insurance premiums.

“This is a short-sighted and mean cut from a government that has no economic plan and a Prime Minister who is hopelessly out of touch with our needs. Too weak to consider tax reform, they instead look to cut pensions, health and education funding wherever they can”.

Unfortunately, many parents remain unaware the program even exists because the Abbott-Turnbull Government has never properly promoted it. The Government’s own Health Department noted the program had been “poorly promoted”.

FRIDAY, 18 MARCH 2016