John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'll put my two bobs worth into this debate. The fact is the amendment put forward by the Greens is wrong. It is false. It is misleading. It says the Australian Government has cut the Child Dental Benefits Scheme by $300 per child, but in February this year the $1,000 cap was put back. What you're saying has been reversed. It is wrong. You are misleading the chamber with that, and that's why I won't support it and why I denied you leave.

Crocodile tears are being cried by the Greens and some of those opposite. Let me take you back to the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme. When I first came to this place in 2008, a scheme put forward by the Howard government was providing up to $1 billion a year. For who? The elderly and those with limited finances. All they required was a referral from a GP and they could have up to $4,250 of dental work carried out. Who wanted to axe it? The Labor Party, when it was in government, and the Greens—joined, as they are, at the hip—back in 2008-09 tried to axe that program so that pensioners, the very poor and elderly who needed serious work done on their teeth could not have it carried out. Benefits were available for a comprehensive range of dental services. The Chronic Disease Dental Scheme was spending $1 billion dollars a year by the time it was closed. When was it closed? Perhaps Senator Di Natale might answer the question. It was closed by the Gillard government in 2012. Who was in a written coalition with the Gillard government then? The Greens. You cut down a $1 billion program!

As I said, I denied leave for this reason: the amendment you have circulated in the chamber is wrong. To say the Child Dental Benefits Scheme has been cut by $300 per child is wrong. The benefits cap was reinstated in February this year. Senator Di Natale is wrong. You shouldn't say things that are simply wrong. Your amendment to my motion is wrong and misleading. The $1,000 cap was reinstated in February this year, and that is a fact.

Senator Di Natale interjecting—

You can give it, Senator Di Natale, but you don't like taking it.