The Victorian State Budget does nothing to address some of the worst gaps in the Victorian health system, according to the Victorian Oral Health Alliance (VOHA). VOHA Tony McBride spokesman said today that the Budget fails thousands of Victorians most in need of immediate dental care, “bordering on wilful neglect”. He said the Budget offers less per person this year. Mr McBride said that the unchanged dental treatment targets are an effective decrease 3.45%.

"LATROBE University Bendigo will spearhead a Labor Party pledge to address the critical shortage of dentists in regional Victoria."

"Steve Bracks is tempting country voters with a range of sweeteners, announcing a new dental school to provide dentists for the bush, and he has also pledged to get rid of demountable classrooms. No word from the Liberals on the plan or two new trains pledged by Labor. The Bracks Government's attention to dental health has been a long time coming. The dental centre will be run by La Trobe."

"Now with the state election just weeks away both major parties have put their dental policies on the table. Dr Greg Morris, president of the Australian Dental Association weighs up both Liberal and Labor Parties policies. Morris says it is not just about having dentists but also the facilities required to do the work and explains why it is not just a pure issue of training people and details what areas the government should be targetting. Morris explains that traditionally dentistry has been a state issue."

"What will Baillieu cut to fund dental promises?"

Supplement on the Victorian election – “The challenges facing the next Government and idea to tackle them"

"I you want to find a victim of the health system who is suffering purely because they belong to the wrong income bracket, go to Moe."

"Ballarat denture patients are waiting more than three years for teeth, prompting quality of life concerns"

“Some of the State’s most vulnerable citizens are waiting more than three years to get dentures through the public dental system." (Summary of media release with hyperlink to VOHA website. Health Date 16 October 2006
Publisher Phillips Fox

Some of the State’s most vulnerable citizens are waiting more than three years to get dentures through the public dental system.
The President of the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch, Dr Greg Morris, said these people are facing reduced quality of life, without the ability to eat properly and to maintain their appearance... Download the full MEDIA RELEASE (16K PDF)

Prime Gippsland (Sale) reported on the dental waiting lists, commenting that they were just as bad for those people waiting to receive dentures.

"Dental health providers deny that Knox has rotting teeth services despite waiting list evidence to the contrary."

"People in Springvale are having to wait more than three years to receive basic dental care."

"… people needing dental treatment continue to face long delays …"

"Waiting times for public dental care in Victoria have improved in the past six months …"

"Dentists lobby for funding public dental patients in the south-west …"

ADAVB President Dr Greg Morris was interviewed by TV stations Channels 7 and 9 about the waiting lists.

"People in Geelong are waiting up to three years for public dental care.”“People in Geelong are waiting up to three years for public dental care."

Radio personality Ernie Sigley interviewed ADAVB President Dr Great Morris about public dental waiting lists.

"Ballarat residents face waits of almost four years for public dentistry."

Local ADAVB representative Dr John Gibson interviewed about the waiting list issue followed by talk-back.

ADAVB President Dr Greg Morris was interviewed about the public dental waiting lists.

Prime TV reported the waiting list issue.

"Long dental waiting times in towns in the Gippsland region."

On-air announcer discussed Victorian Oral Health Alliance and the dental waiting list issue.

Victorians concerned about the long waiting lists for dental treatment can now express their views to politicians using a new website. A group of non-aligned organisations - the Victorian Oral Health Alliance (VOHA) - has given them a dedicated website so they can help the parties contesting the Victorian State election to recognise the need for additional dental health policy measures... Download the full MEDIA RELEASE (20K PDF)