Victorian Labor promises free dental care if re-elected in Australia-first move
Summary
The Victorian Labor government in Australia has proposed a new plan to provide free dental care for all residents if they are re-elected. The plan includes opening 10 public dental clinics offering free checkups and treatments on a walk-in basis, aiming to help over 100,000 people per year.Key Facts
- The Victorian Labor government plans to spend $230 million to open 10 public dental clinics across the state.
- Clinics will provide free dental services like checkups, fillings, root canals, and extractions.
- Seven clinics will be in Melbourne and three in regional Victoria, open long hours including weekends.
- Services will be offered on a walk-in basis, prioritizing urgent dental needs such as pain or injury.
- Currently, free or low-cost dental care in Australia is mostly limited to certain groups like children and Indigenous people.
- Most Australian adults pay for dental treatment out of pocket because Medicare does not cover dental care for most adults.
- Rising dental costs have led some Australians to delay or skip treatment, causing worsening oral health.
- This program is a state government initiative and it is unclear if the federal government will help fund it.
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