Victoria Labor Premier pledges 20 free dental clinics

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced a $230 million plan to double the number of free dental clinics in the state to 20, if the Labor party is re-elected in the upcoming November 28 state election. The expanded commitment, up from an initial pledge of 10 clinics, aims to provide free care to an estimated 200,000 Victorians annually starting in July 2027.

The proposed clinics will include 14 locations in Melbourne suburbs to address long wait times and six in regional centers, specifically in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Latrobe, Mildura, and Shepparton. Carroll stated that the policy aims to prevent citizens from having to use superannuation to pay for dental care.

The announcement comes as recent polling by Roy Morgan shows the Coalition leading the primary vote with 29.5 percent, ahead of Labor at 22.5 percent and One Nation at 22 percent. Meanwhile, the Coalition leader, Jess Wilson, has proposed a pause and review of the $33.5 billion Suburban Rail Loop project.