Member for Mid-West and Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA has slammed the Cook Labor Government for failing to deliver the School Dental Van Service to the Murchison, leaving children without access to vital oral health care since 2023.
Mr Love said that schools in Yalgoo, Mt Magnet, Meekatharra and Cue have now gone two years without a visit from the School Dental Van.
“The Government promised that a new, larger dental van was under construction and would be ready by late 2024,” Mr Love said.
“Yet here we are in August 2025 — and still, there is no van, no service, and no certainty for families.”
Mr Love said the absence of the service was particularly damaging for the Murchison, where children already face unique health disadvantages.
“These towns are remote — up to 420 kilometres from Geraldton — and families simply do not have alternative access to dental care,” he said.
“Without this service, children in the Murchison are being left behind and placed at greater risk of serious health problems later in life.”
“I’ve heard of children as old as seven who have never seen the dentist before.”
Today Mr Love received a response from the Minister for Health, who blamed a manufacturing defect and ongoing staffing challenges for the continued failure to deliver the dental van service.
“If your family car was recalled for a defect, you wouldn’t accept waiting two years for a replacement — yet that’s exactly what the Minister expects families in the Murchison to endure.”
Mr Love has called on the Cook Labor Government to immediately deploy a van and guarantee that students in the Murchison will not miss out on another year of dental care.
“The Cook Labor Government must stop making excuses. Our children’s health cannot wait.”
