Lines attributable to Greens Spokesperson for Health and Mental Health, Jordon Steele-John:

“Labor’s budget fails to address the mental health crisis that so many in our community are feeling right now. 

“People are unable to get the mental health support they need. We know that the availability of local services, long waitlists, and the cost are major barriers to people getting mental health supports. 

On the 8th of November, the National Cabinet decided to remove the requirement for people to isolate while positive for Covid-19 from the 14th of October.

Lines attributable to Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Health and Disability. 

"The removal of the requirement to isolate has left many people feeling vulnerable and deeply frustrated that their wellbeing is being ignored by the Australian Government.

In the wake of Roe v Wade, the Australian Greens will today establish a Senate inquiry into abortion access in Australia. 

This inquiry will identify what can be done federally to alleviate the physical and financial barriers to accessing contraceptives, sexual and reproductive healthcare and termination services, as well as options to improve the quality and availability services, particularly in regional and remote Australia.

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters

On International ME/CFS Awareness Day, the Australian Greens extended our strong support  for improved health outcomes for the 250,000 Australians living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The Greens have pledged $1.14 billion in extra federal funding for WA chronically underfunded hospitals.

This investment would be funded by repairing the broken ‘resource super profits tax’ (the PRRT), forcing big corporations to pay royalties on the gas they currently access for free.

The Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT), introduced in 1987, is meant to ensure that the public gets a fair share of the unearned revenue (rent) enjoyed by companies by virtue of having exclusive access to Commonwealth resources. 

The Greens today announced their commitment to providing people in rural and regional communities with access to free mental and dental health care through Medicare.

The commitment is part of the Greens’ broader $77.6 billion investment into free dental care over the decade for all Australians, which was also announced today. Under the plan, people will still be able to choose their dentist and routine and therapeutic dental services will be bulk-billed or rebated.

The Australian Greens will today launch their plan to get dental into Medicare, a move which would benefit more than a million South Australians.

Under the plan, Australians will be able to go to the dentist and use their Medicare card, just like at the GP. Everyone entitled to Medicare will be able to get Medicare-funded dental care and orthodontic treatment as well as oral surgeries, periodontics and prosthodontics.

In a major address outlining the party’s election platform, Adam Bandt will announce the Greens’ plan to get dental into Medicare at the National Press Club in Canberra today.

The Greens leader will outline how the party is on track to hold the balance of power after the election, and will say the party’s priorities are taking climate action by stopping new coal and gas mines, and tackling the cost of living by getting dental and mental health into Medicare, fixing the housing crisis and wiping student debt.

The Australian Greens have today recommitted to their plan to make telehealth a permanent feature of our healthcare system.

If the Greens enter a balance of power arrangement after the election, they will push to invest $772 million over the forward estimates into expanding and strengthening telehealth services.