Federal Budget 2026 has limited upside for dentistry

This year’s Federal Budget, handed down by Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers in Canberra, delivered only limited specific upsides for dentistry, featuring an extension of funding for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), and an announcement that State and Territory dental services will have access to the CDBS on an ongoing basis.

The Budget contained limited preventive health measures, such as action on vaping and illegal tobacco, and improving the Health Star Rating and making it permanent. However, it stopped short of delivering major reform such as a sugar tax.

The ADA continues to work with Government on supporting dentistry as a small business. We know that costs of care have increased, and it is heartening to see some measures which will assist such as the following:

• The $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses will be made permanent

• A new option to move to monthly PAYG instalments from July 1

• $379.4m for the National Medicines Stockpile

The Federal Budget was a missed opportunity to commit to the National Oral Health Plan. The Federal Government are yet to release the plan, which ADA hopes will take a coordinated approach to workforce maldistribution, sector sustainability, and funding for vulnerable groups, such as the Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme. 

Ahead of the Federal Budget, ADA released our pre-budget submission at the end of January, which called for government action on workforce issues (including Internationally Qualified Health Pracititioners), the National Oral Health Plan, private health insurance, regulation, and funding for vulnerable groups. A later submission, released on 19 February this year, addressed the General Registration for Experienced Internationally Qualified Health Practitioners on which we are continuing to work with Government.