Senator Jane Hume dismisses Medicare dental calls as Labor ‘panic’

Covering dental under Medicare would cost “an enormous amount” and wouldn’t be supported, a Liberal senator says.

Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume has dismissed growing calls for dental to be covered by Medicare as Labor “panic” ahead of next year’s general election.

The Liberal senator said the estimated $45bn price tag of such a move was “an enormous amount” and ruled out Coalition support.

“It’s not Coalition policy, but I’m not surprised to hear that Labor backbenchers are beginning to panic and adopting Greens policy rather than abiding by the policies of cabinet,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program on Wednesday.

“This does seem to be a government that is beginning to panic, the whites of their eyes showing in the lead-up to the next election. They’re lashing out and grabbing hold of any life line they can.”

Senator Hume’s comments come amid reports that government MPs from both Labor’s left and right factions are pressuring Anthony Albanese to get Medicare coverage for dental on the policy agenda in the next parliamentary agenda.

Senator Jane Hume is no fan of Medicare coverage for dental. Picture: Supplied

Also speaking to Sunrise, Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said while it was not a Labor policy for the current term, it was an issue worthy of discussion.

“I think it’s a really important point that’s being made,” she said.

Ms O’Neil said people were “probably wondering why when something goes wrong with the rest of their body it is covered by Medicare, but if it relates to teeth oral health, it’s not covered by Medicare”.

“I’m not surprised to see Labor MPs raising this. Labor’s the party of Medicare,” she said.

“We invented it and in each term of government we do big and important things to protect this most important part of our healthcare system in Australia.”

The policy was first announced by the Greens while unveiling their controversial excessive profits tax on big business that would hit major companies with a 40 per cent tax on profits over $100m and target the likes of the big four banks, supermarket giants and telcos.

Originally published as Senator Jane Hume dismisses Medicare dental calls as Labor ‘panic’