Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown held a press conference to discuss Treasury costings for a proposed savings measure showing almost $1 billion in revenue could be restored over the forward estimates if the Australian Greens' proposal to reduce the fringe benefits tax concessions for company cars is adopted in next month's budget.

The Australian Greens today urged federal and state leaders to boost mental health services and work towards a national, universal public dental care scheme amid the debate about the mechanism for health funding at Sunday's Council of Australian Governments meeting.

Senator Bob Brown and Senator Rachel Siewert urge state and federal leaders to boost mental health services and work towards a national, universal public dental care scheme.

Senator Brown also vows to take on Rio Tinto, whose profit bonanza will benefit its more than 70-percent foreign shareholders, and other heavyweights as companies prepare to fight efforts to develop an alternative to coal and the Greens’ push to put an effective price on carbon.

The Australian Greens would use a stronger voice in federal parliament to push for increased funding for dental health, including a universal 'denticare' scheme.

A national Galaxy poll of over 1000 people shows that 82% of Australians would support the federal government establishing a universal dental-care scheme.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, who will visit a suburban dental clinic in Sydney today, said that the Greens denticare system would help the 500,000+ Australians on dental waiting lists.

Greens Leader Bob Brown today gave the Greens support for the Fair Go for Pensioners Coalition.
 
"Australia's 1.2 million pensioners are John Howard's forgotten people," Senator Brown said.
 

The $3billion federal funding on health insurance should be diverted to indigenous health and a national dental healthcare strategy, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.
 
"The Australian Health Review report shows taxpayers get very poor value propping up private health schemes," Senator Brown said.
 
"The $3billion could make a real dent in the appalling health indices for Australian indigenous people, who die 17 years earlier than their fellow Australians but have less spent on their health needs.
 

Greens leader Senator Bob Brown this morning addressed the Oral Health Alliance forum at Parliament House. Speaking to over 80 dental heath professionals, academics and dental care non government organisations, Senator Brown said that the Greens will reinstate a fully funded proactive school dental programme, providing dollar for dollar support to the states.