Dennis Jensen (Tangney, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this motion of disallowance. Perhaps I have softened, because I wish to quote a famed Communist back to Labor, but this is the first rule of effective communications: relate. It was Nikita Khrushchev who said:

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.

And so it is with the dental benefits amendments bill to which we have moved this disallowance motion.

The facts, as stubborn as they are, are that under the current scheme, the coalition's scheme, 20 million services have provided cover to over one million patients since 2007. And 80 per cent of services under the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme have been provided to concession card holders. The people of my electorate are indignant that Labor is playing politics with their health. The reality is that Labor has gone to great lengths to undermine the CDDS because it was established by Tony Abbott as Minister for Health and Ageing and has been a success in improving access to treatment. The alternative Prime Minister is a man tackling our roughest challenges with fidelity and diligence. Tony Abbott is a man who does not play politics with people's lives or their children's lives. He is a firm and considered servant who does not make empty promises.

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