Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says she is furious Labor misled Loddon residents at the 2025 federal election promising they would spend $5 million on ‘new childcare’ when, all along, the already-promised childcare facility at Wedderburn was getting the money.

A Federation Funding Agreement between the Albanese federal Labor Government and the Allan Victorian state Labor Government has exposed a deeply disappointing dodgy marketing on childcare funding for Loddon Shire.

“I was working with the community and wrote to the Minister exploring what the possibilities for this funding might be, because community groups were excited about the desperate needs in their town,” Dr Webster said.

“Voters went into polling booths hopeful their town would get funding, when all along Wedderburn was getting the money, and no more than what Labor had already promised them in 2023.”

Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub said the Wedderburn announcement caught Council by surprise, with no consultation or warning.

“Loddon Shire Council and our community are very disappointed. Loddon Shire communities deserve more and again have been ignored by State and Federal Government on this matter. We unfortunately, continue to be a childcare desert in vast majority of the municipality,” Mayor Straub said.

Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh had confirmed Labor’s election pledge in a written reply to Dr Webster, stating it would deliver a new service and that the government would work with the Loddon community to identify an appropriate location.

It is now clear Labor already had chosen the location – Wedderburn - a project promised by Labor MP for Ripon Martha Haylett on behalf of the Victorian Government in December 2023.

Dr Anne Webster MP slammed the move as yet again showing Labor's disrespect for regional Victoria.

"This is misleading, tricky, and disingenuous behaviour from the Albanese and Allan Governments," Dr Webster said.

"Families in Loddon deserve better than cynical vote-buying smoke and mirrors."

"As Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, I am appalled by Labor playing Loddon mums and dads for fools because, the fact is,  childcare is critical to regional workforce attraction and retention.  

“Labor has disrespected Loddon residents and their Shire who wasted countless hours contemplating the possible options for $5 million in new childcare spending, when in truth it was going to already-promised Wedderburn all along."

Dr Webster said yet again – as with the Suburban Rail Loop – Federal Labor is propping up unfunded Victorian Labor Government commitments, betraying regional families in childcare deserts who have campaigned tirelessly for accessible childcare.

"The people of Loddon Shire fought hard for the Wedderburn centre through state advocacy, and now the federal government is claiming credit while delivering nothing additional."

Dr Webster said she had written to the Federal Minister for surge funding for Loddon Shire due to Labor’s tricky behaviour and persistent childcare deserts in the Shire.

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