Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I think we need a change in title for this MPI here this afternoon. It should be 'never let the truth get in the way of a good story'. What we have heard from those on the other side is just stories. Calling them stories is being kind to them—it is fairytales. What sort of world do you live in? You come in here making up all these facts and figures which are not true. Let's just have a look at some facts. Then I want to go into some details, because those opposite also mentioned what is happening to health in regional and rural Australia. It is something I know a little bit about. I would like to point out some facts on that. Let's just have a look at the real truth.

The Abbott government's investment in health and sport will increase to a total of $69.7 billion in 2015-16, an increase of $2.3 billion over the last year—fact. Spending on Medicare is set to increase again this year to over $21 billion—fact, not fairytale. Dental: this government is providing more than $200 million in the 2015-16 budget for state and territory dental services over the next 12 months to allow for reform work to be undertaken.

It is very interesting, because there was a doorstop this morning and the Leader of the Opposition decided that he should play politics with dental services. He said that, even though $200 million has been given to the states, there is a cut occurring. Then he was asked by a journalist, 'So what is your policy on providing increased dental services to the Australian people?' I waited and waited, and he talked and talked. I thought, 'We have heard about all these new ideas.' I waited and I waited. Nothing—not even a commitment to provide one, nothing.

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