Public dental patients in Victoria can wait almost two years for treatment. On 13 October, Victorian Labor announced a proposed Geelong clinic as an election pledge. It would open only if the party wins November's state election, according to Labor's election announcement.
Adults and children could get free check-ups or fillings, with no appointment required. The service would also provide root canals and extractions. It is one of 10 clinics in Labor's $230 million statewide plan, with three proposed for regional Victoria.
Labor says its school-based Smile Squad program has already provided free dental care to more than 175,000 children.
A seven-day service with urgent cases prioritised
The clinic is expected to open by mid-2027, after an Expressions of Interest process to establish the service. Proposed hours are 9am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends. Patients needing the most urgent treatment would get priority.
Routine dental treatment is generally not covered by Medicare. Australians spend about $8 billion a year out of pocket on dental care. Labor says at least 30,000 Victorians access their superannuation annually to pay for it.
Speaking at Barwon Health North in Norlane on Tuesday, premier Ben Carroll said people were delaying care while in pain. "Every year, Victorians are drawing some $25,000 per transaction out of their superannuation to pay for dental," he said. "They're living in pain, they need extractions, they need abscesses fixed, they need fillings."
Healthdirect Australia lists Echuca Regional Health's The Hopwood Centre as requiring appointments for dental care. That offers a regional point of comparison for Geelong's proposed no-appointment model.
Carroll said he had seen the local waiting list for urgent care. "You shouldn't have to choose between getting the dental care you need and paying the bills." He also linked poor oral health to dementia. He cited diabetes as another connection, and heart disease as well, a link examined in this report on gum inflammation.
Jobs and an election test
Labor says the 10 clinics would create 180 full-time equivalent jobs. It has also pledged almost $13 million to recruit and retain dental professionals. Relocation assistance is intended to attract 20 clinicians to the three regional clinics.
The announcement comes as Labor faces a difficult contest. The Resolve Political Monitor, conducted in October and published in Nine newspapers, put Labor's primary vote at 25 per cent, behind the Coalition on 28 per cent. One Nation stood at 23 per cent. Published on Monday, the poll also recorded a nine-point fall in Carroll's net popularity to minus 11. Opposition leader Jess Wilson's rating rose four points to plus 23.
Asked about the results on Tuesday, Carroll replied: "There's only one poll that matters". He said Labor would put health and education first. He also named community safety as a priority and vowed to fight "to stop a One Nation coalition government with the Liberals."
