Free dental clinic promised as election battle heats up

Key points

• Geelong will host one of 10 proposed free public dental clinics across Victoria, Premier Ben Carroll has confirmed. The clinics would offer check-ups, fillings, root canals and extractions with no appointment needed, and are expected to open by mid-2027.
• Labor unveiled the $230 million plan in August as its first major promise of the state election campaign. Carroll said Victorians are paying heavily out of their superannuation for dental care, and that public waiting times stretch to almost two years.
• The announcement comes as Labor trails the Coalition in the latest poll ahead of the November state election.