Tuesday, 25 August 2026

 Nick STAIKOS (Bentleigh – Minister for Housing, Building and Precincts, Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Seniors) (14:14): Victoria is at its best when it has a government that delivers for all Victorians, and that is exactly what the Carroll Labor government is doing, because our plan for free dental will make sure Victorians can get the care that they need without worrying about whether they can afford the bill. And for older Victorians, that matters. It matters a lot. More than one in five Victorians are aged 60 or over. They have spent their lives working, raising families, volunteering and contributing to the social, cultural and economic life of our state. They deserve to age with dignity, and they should never have to choose between looking after their teeth and paying for the essentials. But too many do. The 2023 Victorian Population Health Survey found 22 per cent of Victorians aged 65 to 74 delayed or avoided seeing a dental professional because of cost, and for those aged 75 to 84 it was 14.2 per cent. National research from the Australian Dental Association tells the same story. Cost is the biggest reason for older Australians delaying dental treatment, while almost half report painful or debilitating oral health problems. Dental care is health care. That is why a re-elected Carroll Labor government will establish free public dental clinics across Victoria, open every day and open to every Victorian. Unlike those opposite with what they promised in 2022, this is not a one-off payment –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, for the third time a minister is abusing their ministers statement to attack the opposition. This is just outrageous.

The SPEAKER: The minister was referring to a 2022 comparison.

Nick STAIKOS: In 2022 they proposed a one-off payment –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, my understanding is that Rulings from the Chair is very, very clear that comparing and contrasting with former governments and their administration is entirely in order but referring to an opposition yesterday or the day before is not.

Anthony Carbines: On the point of order, Speaker, the minister was referring to 2022 and had not had an opportunity to refer to his comparing and contrasting of past and present policies, and he should be able to do that.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Tarneit can leave the chamber for an hour and a half.

Member for Tarneit withdrew from chamber.

The SPEAKER: Minister, comparing and contrasting is fine with policies of previous oppositions or governments.

Nick STAIKOS: People I will not mention proposed a one-off payment. As opposed to that one-off payment, this is structural cost-of-living reform. The party that delivered Medicare is going to deliver free dental for Victoria.