Greens MP and workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt says the nurses dispute could be resolved if the Gillard government backs his Fairer Bargaining Bill to be introduced into Parliament on Monday.

Mr Bandt says that workers in essential services, like nurses, are unfairly disadvantaged because their rights to take industrial action are limited and Fair Work Australia is barred from arbitrating on key issues such as nurse/patient ratios.

The Greens' Fair Work (Job Security and Fairer Bargaining) Amendment Bill will also limit the ability of powerful employers, such as Qantas, ability using lockouts as a legal tactic and require Fair Work to consider job security as well as productivity in making decisions.

"If my bill passes, the Baillieu government's attack on nurse/patient ratios will be stopped dead in its tracks and Fair Work Australia could resolve the issue."

"As an industrial lawyer for over a decade, you can spot when a powerful employer is stringing out negotiations because they think they'll get a better outcome before a legally hamstrung Fair Work Australia. That's exactly what the Baillieu government is doing."

"Employers like the Victorian Government have a double advantage under the Fair Work Act. First, people like nurses have fewer rights to take industrial action because they work in an essential service. Second, if the dispute ends up in arbitration, legal barriers mean the tribunal will only deal with some issues and won't impose outcomes like nurse/patient ratios."

"As a result, the Government is dragging its feet in the negotiations, hoping to somehow force the dispute to arbitration. Nurses are stuck in an impossible Catch 22, where if they take industrial action nurse/patient ratios disappear, but if they don't take industrial action, the dispute doesn't get resolved."

"We now have the unacceptable situation where the dispute is dragging on, nurses are in such despair that they're considering resigning, and yet the negotiations are going nowhere. This dispute needs to be fixed."

"Minister Shorten should not wait until the Fair Work Review finishes. Labor could help resolve the dispute preserve nurse/patient ratios tomorrow if they back my bill."

Greens' spokesperson for health, Senator Richard Di Natale, and Greens MP, Adam Bandt, said today that the Greens had secured $165 million in funding for dental health. The commitment to allocate the money raised by the Medicare Levy Surcharge towards dental care comes in response to the Greens support for passage of the Government's private health insurance package.

"Access to dental care is one of the biggest areas of inequality in Australia," said Senator Di Natale.

"The Greens have acted to correct that inequality by securing $165 million for dental health, which will be raised through the Medicare levy surcharge. The private health insurance rebate contributes to great inequity in Australia's health system and encourages the development of a two-tier, American style system. Means testing this unfair rebate is an important step forward.

"Although we are pleased with this outcome, the Greens will not waver in our commitment to a universal Denticare scheme, beginning in this year's budget. This is a solid down payment on year one of Denticare but we will continue to work with the Government to achieve this outcome."

Greens MP, Adam Bandt, said that the Greens believe that going to a dentist should be like going to a doctor.

"When I agreed to support the Gillard government, improving dental care was a key part of our written agreement," said Bandt

"Thanks to the people of Melbourne, we are now well on our way to putting dental into Medicare. When there are Greens in both houses, it's good for Australians' health."

Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt today called on the Treasurer to rule out potential cuts to health and medical research amidst intense speculation that $400 million will be slashed in the forthcoming budget.

Mr Bandt addressed the ‘Discoveries Need Dollars' rally in Melbourne today, called by health and medical researchers to protest against funding cuts.

"Melbourne's reputation as a centre of world-class health and medical research is under threat."