Wednesday, 26 August 2026

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:27): (1442) My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, yesterday you dismissed concerns about your free dental policy. Today the Victorian president of the Australian Dental Association Dr Carolyn Ng said your plan will worsen waiting lists:

By opening up the funding, which is only $75 million per year, to everyone in the state, it means that ones who are already identified as being at most risk of dental disease are going to miss out.

She went on to say:

The most vulnerable people will miss out on having their teeth saved.

The University of Melbourne dental expert associate professor Matt Hopcraft said the policy ‘doesn’t make any sense’. Minister, did you consult the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch before announcing this policy?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:28): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. Of course our public dental health program and the announcements that we have made are a great example of the choice that Victorians will have come November when it comes to the provision and the expansion of dental health care. I have to say, the proposition that expanding eligibility for free dental is somehow going to add to the public dental list is nonsensical – absolutely illogical and nonsensical. Again, this is about recognising that Victorians right now are being locked out of dental care because they cannot afford to go to a private dentist. We already have a very strong public dental offering in our state, with eligible Victorians able to access free dental care at both our hospitals and also up to 40 community health services across the state. We will continue that strong investment in public health, and that is because we are a government that actually cares about people’s dental care. We care about it. We care about the fact that people are currently locked out of dental care because they cannot afford a private dental appointment.

Members interjecting.

Georgie Crozier: Is the minister finished?

The PRESIDENT: It was hard to hear her; your colleagues were just yelling. I noticed, Ms Crozier, you were trying to hear the answer, and so was I.

Georgie Crozier: I was.

The PRESIDENT: I do not think your buddies were helping us.

Georgie Crozier: Can I get some clarity? Has the minister finished her answer?

The PRESIDENT: Yes, so a supplementary, please.

Georgie Crozier: She has finished? Well, I note that she did not even go anywhere close to answering the question about who the minister –

Ingrid STITT: On a point of order, President, I actually thought that you were calling the house to order, which is why I sat down. I had not actually concluded my answer.

The PRESIDENT: That will teach me to assume anything. I apologise, Minister. How much time was left on the clock? There is 1½ minutes. Maybe if Ms Crozier can hear her answer –

Tom McIntosh interjected.

The PRESIDENT: Mr McIntosh, you do not need to encourage the other people. The minister wants to give her answer in silence.

Ingrid STITT: Thank you, President. I apologise for my confusion. Because there was so much noise in the chamber, it was hard to follow exactly what was happening. The reality is that our government is absolutely committed to and focused on providing additional dental health care to Victorians, which is why we want to expand the eligibility beyond what our current public dental health program delivers. Of course we want to continue to work with all the stakeholders in this space, and we will certainly continue to engage with all of the organisations with a strong interest in these matters, including the dental association, including Oral Health Victoria and including our health services, who are already delivering brilliant public dental and who can help inform the way in which we build out with our 10 free dental clinics available to Victorians right across the state. That is our focus. Our focus is about structural cost-of-living relief for Victorians so that they can get the urgent and regular dental care that is going to mean they have much better oral health care.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:31): That extra time gave her no ability to answer my question. Clearly you did not consult with the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch, because you did not even go anywhere near answering that question, Minister; you just made a broad statement. So I am going to ask: who did you actually consult with?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:32): That is an interesting line of questioning from Ms Crozier. I will tell you what we have done: we have listened to Victorians. We have listened to Victorians about what it is they want, and this has been talked about for decades. When I go around to visit the incredible work of our community health services and Smile Squad – how you would want to knock Smile Squad is beyond me. It is the most wonderful program, and every state and territory is asking us questions about Smile Squad because they want to replicate our effort here in Victoria. The reality is that our government will always listen to what the community are saying they want to prioritise, and they need access to free dental care.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:33): On a point of order, President, you know I will be asking for both of these questions to be reinstated. But I move:

That the minister’s responses be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Ingrid Stitt: Further to the point of order, President, Ms Crozier does not get to dictate how I answer her questions.

The PRESIDENT: I will rule on that point of order. The minister may answer in a way that the member does not particularly like.

Motion agreed to.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, the questions were very specific, but I will wait until after question time to ask that you review them and to ask that they be reinstated and that the minister answer them properly.

The PRESIDENT: That is the practice that we have every sitting day.