Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

Medicare visited a dentist in 2009 who was not providing treatment plans and quotes to patients nor copies of treatment plans to referring general practitioners. On a return visit in 2010 Medicare found the dentist had not rectified the issues. The dentist incorrectly claimed $1.9 million of taxpayers' money and the member for Bowman thinks that does not matter.

In another case, an audit of a dentist found he had incorrectly claimed $1.8 million. During the audit it was revealed that the dentist had repeatedly failed to inform referring GPs of the course of treatment he intended to carry out on their patients. The dental practitioner said it was because he did not use computers. That was $1.8 million of taxpayers' money ripped off under the scheme that Tony Abbott designed while health minister.

We have a choice: to keep this flawed wasteful scheme open or to provide dental services through the public system.

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