Question details
Morwell electorate
(408) My constituency question is for the Minister for Health, and the question I ask is: what is the Labor government doing to reduce public dental waitlist times? Waitlist times for general dental care in Victoria were 16.9 months for the first half of 2023, but data from the Australian Dental Association shows that in my electorate of Morwell the average waiting time is 30.4 months, or 2½ years. One constituent in my electorate has been on the waiting list for vital dental treatment for 10 years. In that time this person has had one tooth removed, and after initial treatment they were returned to the bottom of the waitlist. Aside from the serious risk this poses to physical health, this person said the agonising wait has affected their confidence, mental health and ability to gain employment. There are more than 1.5 million adults who are eligible for access to dental health care in Victoria, but only 197,641 were able to receive care in the past 12 months. Minister, what is being done to address the unacceptably long waitlists for dental care?
The Allan Labor Government is committed to improving the oral health of Victorians and is investing $250.7 million in dental services in 2023-24, including the School Dental Program (Smile Squad).
The Victorian Government continues to support Dental Health Services Victoria to promote a stronger focus for public dental care to earlier intervention and prevention as well as treatment, and to develop new approaches to address waitlists.
It is important to note that waiting lists are used for clients who require routine dental care only. Those assessed as needing emergency care or priority clients (for example children and young people) are not placed on a wait list and are offered the next available appointment.
In addition, Victoria continues to manage the outcomes from the Commonwealth Government walking away from investing in public dental. The former Liberal National Coalition Government cut spending on public dental by 30 per cent in 2016-17 and maintained this low level of funding throughout their time in government. Further, since 2013 Commonwealth funding for public dental services has occurred through a series of short-term Agreements which compound challenges for the state. These short term agreements made it harder for the state to recruit and maintain a workforce, develop and implement system improvements and achieve efficiencies of scale.
Thankfully, the Albanese Government has agreed with Victoria’s advocacy to develop sustainable and longer-term funding arrangements for public dental services that reflect the long-term service needs of the community including equitable access, addressing barriers to accessing care and providing support for vulnerable population groups. I look forward to working with the Commonwealth to ensure Victoria gets its fair share of funding for public dental.
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The Hon Mary-Anne Thomas MP
Minister for Health
Minister for Health Infrastructure
Minister for Ambulance Services