HSU highlights dental funding issue

The Health Services Union, yesterday launched a campaign urging the major parties to provide Medicare rebates for dentistry for those aged over 65, under 18, and on a pension.

According to The Age, "the union's national secretary, Craig Thomson, said that the union believed in universal dental cover but it had limited its proposal to the elderly and young in recognition of the huge cost involved".

The Age reported that union polling shows "50 per cent of people had postponed a visit to the dentist because they could not afford it, and 15 per cent had delayed taking their children to the dentist".

The poll also indicated that 73 per cent of respondents would be more likely to support a political party if it offered rebates for basic dentistry. The same percentage said they disagreed with Canberra's argument that dental services were a state responsibility.