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Dental experts warn Labor plan could worsen lengthy public dental waits for vulnerable Gippslanders across regional Victoria

Dental experts warn Labor's proposed public dental expansion could worsen Gippsland wait times, with vulnerable residents already facing waits exceeding two years in some areas.

By news@gippsland - 31st August 2026 - Back to News

Dental experts have warned that already lengthy public dental wait times could worsen for vulnerable Gippslanders if the Carroll Labor government is re-elected in November. Labor has announced it will establish 10 new free public dental clinics across Victoria and will open these new clinics to all Victorians, rather than limiting access to people who are currently eligible for public dental care.

Victoria's public dental workforce has fallen sharply since 2018, while Gippsland residents face waits ranging from 18.1 to 24.1 months

Dental wait times rise

The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch warned Labor's plan to open public dental care to everyone could increase wait times for the more than two million low-income and vulnerable Victorians who are already eligible for public dental care.

The ADA reports that Victoria is already facing a shortage of public dentists with the number of full-time equivalent dentists employed in Victoria's public dental system falling from 223.6 in 2018 to just 181.5 as at July 2026. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien said the warning was particularly concerning given the length of existing waiting lists across Gippsland.

Data obtained under Freedom of Information by the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch shows that, as at 1 July 2026, the average wait for community dental services is:

• 18.1 months in Gippsland South
• 24.1 months in Gippsland East
• 20.3 months in Bass
• 19.8 months in Morwell
• 19.8 months in Narracan

"Gippslanders are already waiting far longer than they should to access public dental care, so it is concerning to hear dental experts warn that Labor's plan to open the system to everyone could make those waits even worse," Mr O'Brien said.

Dental crisis deepens

Mr O'Brien said, In Gippsland South, the average wait is more than a year and a half, while in Gippsland East it is more than two years. These are people who cannot afford private dental care waiting for basic treatment, often while dealing with pain and conditions that can become more serious if left untreated."

Mr O'Brien said he supported better access to affordable dental care but the government needed to address the existing public dental crisis before expanding eligibility. "The ADA has warned that opening public dental funding to everyone could mean even longer waitlists and that vulnerable Victorians who are already eligible for care could miss out."

"The question is how you can expand a system to everyone when it is already struggling to provide timely care to the people who need it most. Gippslanders need shorter waiting lists, not a system where the people most in need are pushed further down the queue," said Mr O'Brien.

Pictures from South Gippsland Shire Council Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Regional Development $750,000 investment expands employment and education support for 120 Latrobe Valley young people through 2028
  The Victorian government is investing a further $750,000 in the Ladder Step Up Latrobe Valley Program, supporting 120 young people with employment, education, training and independence opportunities through 2028.
• Traralgon Tyers interconnect begins, strengthening water supply reliability and resilience across four Gippsland towns for future regional growth
  Gippsland Water has begun construction on a 4.5-kilometre pipeline linking four towns to Traralgon’s water network, improving reliability, resilience, efficiency and capacity for future regional growth.
• Latrobe Regional Gallery launches spring season with five exhibitions and live mural creation on 19 September 2026 In Morwell
  Latrobe Regional Gallery will launch its Spring Season on Saturday, September 19, featuring five exhibitions and a live monumental mural by Japanese-Australian artist Twoone/Hiroyasu Tsuri during the Morwell event.
• Danny O'Brien calls for urgent action on ongoing Gippsland power outages impacting residents, businesses and critical services
  The Nationals' Danny O'Brien is calling on the Victorian government to demand answers from electricity providers over repeated Gippsland outages disrupting residents, businesses and critical medical equipment.
• Swooping season returns across Latrobe, with council urging residents to take precautions around nesting birds
  Latrobe City Council is urging residents to stay alert during swooping season, avoid nesting areas where possible, check Victoria’s Swooping Bird Map and take precautions when walking outdoors.
• Community groups encouraged to apply for East Gippsland’s 2026-27 grants program before 14 September 20260 deadline
  East Gippsland community groups can apply for 2026–27 grants supporting community, environmental, social and wellbeing projects, with funding from $3,000 to $20,000 available until September 14, 2026.
• Five additional VLocity train sets to boost Gippsland Line capacity and ease crowding as the Nationals commitment
  The Nationals will add five VLocity train sets to Gippsland services, providing 1,110 extra seats and enabling longer trains during peak periods to ease overcrowding on Traralgon and Bairnsdale services.
• The Nationals pledge weekly rubbish collection for Gippsland households to ease costs and improve waste services
  The Nationals have pledged weekly general rubbish collections across Gippsland, promising to review landfill levies and waste charges to reduce costs and ease pressure on families.
• Wellington Shire Council secures $2M for road safety improvements across five Gippsland towns before mid-2027
  Wellington Shire Council has secured $2 million for road safety upgrades across Maffra, Stratford, Sale, Wurruk and Heyfield, with works beginning before Christmas and completion expected by mid-2027.
• New Heart Morass watering infrastructure strengthens Gippsland Lakes wetland health and protects freshwater flows for future generations
  New watering infrastructure at Heart Morass enables controlled freshwater flows, reducing salinity and supporting wetland health, wildlife habitat and long-term resilience across the Gippsland Lakes.
• Flight Test Range Command Centre opens at Latrobe Airport, boosting Gippsland's drone and aerospace industries and economic diversification
  A new Flight Test Range Command Centre at Latrobe Regional Airport will support drone and aerospace innovation, attract investment and create jobs across Gippsland's emerging Advanced Air Mobility sector.
• Martin Cameron backs Regional road funding to fix dangerous, neglected Latrobe Valley roads and bridges
  A proposed $288 million Country Roads and Bridges program would give Latrobe City $1.5 million annually for four years to repair and upgrade local roads and bridges.
• Latrobe City Council will push six reforms addressing regional investment, housing, infrastructure, funding fairness and sustainability at MAV State Council
  Latrobe City Council will take six reform proposals to the MAV State Council, targeting fairer funding, housing, planning, investment, infrastructure and support for regional communities.
• Bass Coast Shire Council seeks community feedback to shape safer roads through New Road Safety Strategy Plan until 10 September 2026
  Bass Coast Shire Council is inviting residents to help shape its new Road Safety Strategy through community workshops and an online survey, aiming to reduce crashes and improve safety for all road users across the shire.
• The Nationals pledge $10M boost for Victoria's Neighbourhood Houses, supporting community hubs facing rising demand and cost pressures
  The Nationals have pledged $10 million over four years for Victoria's Neighbourhood Houses, including $4 million for existing services and $6 million to establish and expand hubs in growing regions.
• Darren Chester joins Annabel Crabb for locally sourced Gippsland feast on ABC's Kitchen Cabinet series
  Darren Chester will feature on ABC's Kitchen Cabinet with Annabel Crabb, showcasing Gippsland produce and locally sourced food when the episode airs August 25.
• Latrobe City Council ranks among Victoria's Top Five for Community Satisfaction in 2026 Snap Send Solve index
  Latrobe City Council has ranked fifth in Victoria for community satisfaction, scoring 64.6 in the 2026 Snap Send Solve Index, exceeding both national and Victorian averages.