Kevin Rudd announced today that a Labor government would spend $510 million over three years to provide eligible families with $150 per teenager to be used on dental checks.
Speaking from the marginal Labor-held seat of Cowan, WA, the Opposition leader said he money will be provided through vouchers, which will be made available to families that recieve Family Tax Benefit A.
"This initiative is an important first step in federal Labor's longer term plan of providing broader dental coverage for Australian families through Medicare,'' Rudd said.
"Preventative health care is of critical concern for the future.''
Labor is also considering including of a wider range of dental procedures under the scheme in the future.