Wednesday, 12 August 2026


Constituency questions

Eastern Victoria Region


Melina BATH

Eastern Victoria Region

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (14:14): (2497) My constituency question is to the Minister for Health. There is something quite exquisitely painful about a parent having to watch their child live in pain. Gippsland mother Melissa has a daughter Matilda. Matilda suffers from dental demineralisation, causing brittle teeth, pain and distress. Until recently she was receiving treatment under a treatment plan through the Latrobe Valley special dental hub. Well, no more, because the government has cut that service, leaving Matilda and her treatment in limbo. What happens next is that they have to make an appointment at the Royal Dental Hospital. They have travel costs. They have long waitlists. All the while poor Melissa is seeing her daughter suffer. This is not good enough. This government has cut that specific, important funding for this venture, and I ask the minister what she is going to do to save Matilda’s teeth.