Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Up in Queensland we have a classic workplace go-slow that the CFMEU would be proud of! We're seeing dental care not being given by the Queensland government, due to a pathetic sideline melee that needs to be sorted out, and long ago. Governments rely on funding from each other, and Queensland gets about $30 million on top of the $190 million of state money for dental care, but the Queensland government are unhappy that they're not getting enough money. We're talking about the raisins in the bun. It's time to stop squeezing the pipe in Queensland and refusing to sign on, because every other state has signed on to fund dental care in Queensland except Queensland, and it's not happening.

I have a pensioner in my electorate who was told to wait six weeks, when she can't chew on one side of her face, who was not given a voucher, simply because of the bickering between Queensland and the Commonwealth. 'Move on' is the clear message. Victoria has a dental program about the same size as Queensland's, but it delivers 20 per cent more services for the same amount of money. Now, Queensland's a larger state, but it's time to stop using excuses. It is given $192 million, plus $30 million of federal money. Get the dental care going. Queensland holding out helps no-one. Punishing pensioners helps no-one. We have a well-funded dental system nationwide. It's good enough for every other state. It should be good enough for Queensland.