The Australian Green today called on the Government to rethink its Commonwealth Dental Health Plan in light of the recently released report from the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.

"With this report recommending a new much stronger approach to dental health, it is clear that the Government's current plan is just tinkering around the edges," said Australian Greens health spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.

"Dental health in Australia has long needed radical change, as the system fails many Australians."

"This is why the Greens opposed the scrapping of the current program, which provides much needed dental care for those with a chronic illness. This has helped thousands of Australians, who in some cases have never been able to access dental care," said Senator Siewert.

The Government's Commonwealth Dental Health Program (CDHP) failed to achieve support in the Senate last year, when the Government could not give assurances that people receiving treatment under the current chronic disease dental scheme would receive the same level of dental health care under the CDHP.

"All Australians should be able to access dental care, which is why the Greens believe a universal, affordable DentiCare system is urgently needed."

"The Government needs to rethink its inadequate plans and develop DentiCare as soon as possible," concluded Senator Siewert.

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