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Nick Wilson and Duncan Murray

Long-in-tooth Labor taps free dental for poll success

Ben Carroll is hoping a dental care sweetener will bring some sparkle to Labor's election pitch. (Jay Kogler/AAP PHOTOS)

More free dental clinics and strengthened workplace protections are the latest, duelling pledges weeks out from a state election.

Premier Ben Carroll boarded the red campaign bus again on Sunday morning to announce Victorians would be able to access free care at 20 dental clinics across the state, doubling an earlier commitment.

The coalition will spend the day campaigning on workplace safety, announcing a plan to expand Labor's legislated protection orders.

Labor
Labor made its initial pledge of free dental clinics at a campaign event in August. (Jay Kogler/AAP PHOTOS)

Joined by Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams and Health Minister Ingrid Stitt, Mr Carroll made the first stop of the day at a dental clinic in Craigieburn, in Melbourne's north, as he fights to win a historic fourth straight term for his party.

Standing alongside medical staff, he unveiled a $230 million pledge to open 20 free dental clinics, up from a previously announced 10.

The clinics will be free to all when they open from July 2027, treating an estimated 200,000 Victorians every year.

"There are Victorians raiding their superannuation to pay for dental," the premier told reporters.

"Free public dental care (is) one of the most important policy challenges for our state."

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll
Premier Ben Carroll has promised to double the number of free dental clinics to reduce wait times. (Jay Kogler/AAP PHOTOS)

Six of the new clinics are reserved for the regions, while the remainder are slated for Melbourne suburbs where people face long wait times for appointments.

The Labor bus made its second stop at a community event in Footscray, where Mr Carroll manned the tongs and handed out sausages to hungry doorknockers.

The latest polling put the coalition as firm favourites to win government with 29.5 per cent of the primary vote, ahead of Labor's 22.5 per cent and One Nation's 22 per cent.

Released on Friday, the Roy Morgan survey also showed a dip in popularity for the Greens from 14 per cent to 12.5 per cent.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson on Sunday pledged to bring forward the introduction of workplace protection laws to February.

Jess Wilson
Opposition leader Jess Wilson plans to broaden workplace protection laws. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

Labor announced the scheme in August - designed to protect workers from threats and abuse at work - with a legislated start date of March.

An elected coalition government would also introduce interim protection orders while awaiting court-backed enforcement.

It would also expand the scheme to a broader range of customer-facing businesses.

"Victorian families are already doing it tough with the cost of living," Ms Wilson said.

"The last thing they need is to worry about their loved ones being threatened or assaulted just for turning up to work."

One Nation state leader Warren Pickering is due to appear at an anti-immigration rally outside Flinders Street Station later in the day.

Mark Nicholson, an upper house candidate for the right-wing party and creator of the divisive Please Explain animated series, is also listed to speak at the Australia Marches rally, as is ex-Liberal MP turned Family First candidate Moira Deeming.

Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell
Ellen Sandell says the Greens continue to build momentum as others fixate on One Nation. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

Meanwhile, Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell is expected to appear alongside hundreds of volunteers and her federal counterpart, David Shoebridge, in the afternoon.

The minor party has been touting internal polling that put its statewide primary vote a point ahead of One Nation's support, at 15 per cent.

Other polls have consistently put One Nation's primary vote at above 20 per cent.

“While the media and political establishment have been fixated on One Nation, the Greens have been building something massive here in Victoria," Ms Sandell said.

The official election campaign will begin on Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday, when the electoral commission issues the writs ahead of the November 28 poll.

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