Experts say Labor’s pledge to give up to three million pensioners free dental care fails to address the major issue in Australia’s dental sector.

Bill Shorten has promised $2.4 billion to be invested in a Pensioner Dental Plan, granting $1000 in dental subsidies every two years.

Combine Pensioners and Superannuants Association Policy Manager Paul Versteege says the waiting lists in the public sector are the real problem.

“[The money] will certainly help, it won’t be enough.

“The public dentistry programs in Australia are in a real mess so $2.4 billion sounds like a lot of money but it’s not going to fix the horrendous waiting lists.”

He says the government should match Labor’s proposal while acknowledging the need for more resources for the dental sector.

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