[Greens-Media] Wealthy state but Iemma mean on teeth

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
29 June 2007


Wealthy state but Iemma mean on teeth


Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Premier
Morris Iemma to allocate money from the $376 million budget surplus to
bring urgent relief to the 200,000 people on the NSW dental waiting
list. 

"Premier Iemma must make an emergency funding allocation to relieve the
suffering of the people who are waiting to see a dentist," Ms Rhiannon
said.  

*The money is available and the Premier should stand up to Treasurer
Michael Costa and boost dental health funding 

*The Treasurer*s mean streak was on display in his budget. Only $8
million went to dental health, and this was just a reannouncement of a
previous commitment. 

*Peak welfare body NCOSS looked at the health needs of NSW and argued
for a $170 million increase for public dental services.

*Children, the elderly and people from disadvantaged communities are
suffering. Federal and state government have abandoned them. Their
failure to adequately fund public dental health has created unacceptable
waiting lists. 

*If Premier Iemma fails to cut these waiting lists, this will be
another example of the lack of compassion modern Labor leaders too often
show to their traditional supporters. 

*The NSW Labor Government spends less on dental health per person
than any other State or Territory in Australia,* Ms Rhiannon said. 


For more information:  Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551, 0427 861 568