ALP pledges new national dental program

Opposition leader Kevin Rudd, yesterday announced that a federal Labor Government would establish a new national dental healthcare program which will not only include concession card holders, but will also extend to low-income families.

This new scheme, details of which have not yet been finalised, will apparently cost more than the $300 million over four years which had previously been promised by former Opposition Leader, Mark Latham.

The Daily Telegraph (14/12) reports advice from Labor figures that "Families would need to undergo a means test and a distinction would be made between urgent or health-related dental care and cosmetic work".

More infomation about this policy will be published as it becomes available.