Labor putting bite on rivals with free dental pitch
Callum Godde |
Victorians are being promised free dental checkups as the opening plank in a cost-of-living election pitch.
Premier Ben Carroll says 10 walk-in dental clinics offering services without charge will be established if his government is re-elected in November.
The policy, the first of its kind by an Australian state government, is slated to cost taxpayers $230 million over three years.
“I’m fighting for the tens of thousands of working people who can’t afford to see a dentist,” Mr Carroll said.
“This is not a one-off boost – it’s structural cost-of-living support, and it’s a national first.”
The move comes as Labor continues to trail the coalition in the polls despite ousting Jacinta Allan as leader in July, with its primary vote in the mid 20s and barely ahead of One Nation.
Under Labor’s proposal, seven clinics have been earmarked for Melbourne, with three based in yet-to-be-announced regional locations.
No appointments will be required for adults or children.
Dedicated oral care clinicians would perform check-ups and procedures such as fillings, root canals and extractions.
The most urgent cases would have priority, including dental pain, swelling or cases following an accident.
“It will give thousands of Victorians access to preventative dental care,” Mr Carroll said.
“It’ll save them real pain and real money.”
The pledge was delivered on Saturday at the party’s 100 Days Out rally.
“It’s the first new policy Labor will take to the election,” he said.
“And it’s just the start.”
When up and running, the clinics are expected to see more 100,000 people a year between 9am and 9pm on weekdays and 9am and 5pm on weekends.
The initiative builds on the Smile Squad program for students and has been modelled on urgent care clinics, established since 2022 to reduce hospital overcrowding caused by lack of bulk-billing services.
Most dental care is not covered by Medicare, with routine trips to the dentist leaving Australians hundreds of dollars out of pocket unless they have insurance.
More than 34,000 Australians were given approval to withdraw from their superannuation to pay for dental work in 2024/25, Australian Taxation Office data shows.
Under previous leader Adam Bandt, the federal Greens pushed for universal dental under Medicare.
Mr Bandt attempted to sell the $54 billion policy with an oversized prop toothbrush during the 2025 federal election campaign, which ended with him and two other Greens MPs losing their lower house seats.
Cost of living is set to dominate the Victorian election as Labor seeks a historic fourth successive term in office.
Liberal leader Jess Wilson has already pledged to cap tolls at $50 a week for two years and force councils to pick up general rubbish bins each week if she becomes premier.
But the coalition still has an electoral mountain to climb, needing a net gain of at least 16 seats to form majority government and return to power for the first time since 2014.
AAP