Tuesday, 25 August 2026

 Michaela SETTLE (Eureka – Minister for Rural and Regional Development, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Water) (14:19): I rise today to update the house on the impact of the Carroll Labor government’s commitment to establish free public dental clinics in regional Victoria. Every Victorian deserves access to high-quality health care no matter where they choose to live, work and raise their families. For too many regional families, accessing dental care can be difficult, waiting months for an appointment or simply putting off treatment because the cost is too high. For families already dealing with cost-of-living pressures, a large dental bill can be the difference between getting treatment and going without, and that is why this announcement matters. Under our plan more than 100,000 Victorians will have access to preventative dental care each year. The clinics will operate with extended hours and will be open to everyone – adults and children. We will also back the workforce needed, providing relocation support to secure 20 clinicians for three regional cities, and deliver career pathway development, clinical scholarships and mentoring to upskill clinicians.

This announcement is about more than oral health. It is about prevention, it is about dignity and it is about cost-of-living relief. Those opposite are talking about percentage guarantees, and we are talking about outcomes and delivering the services that Victoria needs. With a $40 billion black hole in their budget, they need to be honest with Victorians about their planned cuts. I remind the member for Gippsland South –

The SPEAKER: I think we can all anticipate what the point of order is.

James Newbury: Speaker, respectfully, I am sure that you can anticipate my point of order because nothing has been done about it. This is the fourth minister –

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Brighton is warned about reflecting on the Chair. The minister will come back to her ministers statement without attacking the opposition.

Michaela SETTLE: Regional Victorians can compare the record of those in opposition when they sold off the Mildura and Latrobe hospitals and closed 12 hospitals in country Victoria: Eildon, Koroit, Mortlake, Murtoa, Red Cliffs, Macarthur – (Time expired)