The Victorian Labor government has announced a proposal for free dental care, which it will present as a major election commitment for the November state election. Premier Ben Carroll is set to announce the plan at a rally on Saturday.
Under the proposal, a re-elected Labor government would allocate $230m to establish 10 public dental clinics across Victoria. These clinics would provide free check-ups and treatments, including fillings, root canals, and extractions, operating on a walk-in basis.
Seven of the proposed clinics would be located in Melbourne, with the remaining three in regional Victoria, targeting areas with service gaps. The clinics are planned to operate from 9am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends, prioritising urgent cases such as dental pain or accidents.
Health Minister Ingrid Stitt described the initiative as the dental equivalent of the state's urgent care clinics. Once fully operational, the government anticipates these clinics would treat over 100,000 Victorians annually.