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The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, and health minister, Ingrid Stitt, have held a press conference this morning off the back of their announcement yesterday that the Labor government would open 10 free public dental clinics if re-elected in November.
Today, they’ve announced $12.9m to grow and retain the workforce required to operate the 10 clinics. The government estimates it will need 180 full-time equivalent workers to keep the 10 clinics running from 9am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends.
You can’t use a Medicare card for dental unless you’ve got a healthcare card or you are a category of a particular citizen, it is very difficult ... I’ve been visiting a lot of dentists over the past few weeks. There [are] waiting lists. People are in enormous, unbearable pain.
This will be a cost of living measure but it will also make sure that we deal with the healthcare of some of the most vulnerable Victorians. This is really going to fill the gap that’s been there for decades.
The markings around the edge represent each kilometre of the course, while the eight circles on the back represent the Abbott World Marathon Majors. A beautiful Sydney skyline brings the course…
