Statement - Federal Government childcare/early years announcement

Published on 26 February 2026

Loddon Shire Council notes the recent announcement by the Federal Government in relation to early years education in Victoria, and specifically that the $5 million election pledge for services in the shire will go towards the already-operating Wedderburn facility.

This announcement has caught Council by surprise, with no prior consultation or warning.

Council made representations on behalf of our community in Canberra last year as to the best use of this funding, but disappointingly this has clearly been ignored with this announcement.

This much-needed funding has instead gone towards a State Government-run facility which is already open and operating, still leaving Loddon Shire a childcare desert.

Loddon Shire is a community of communities, each with their own distinctive needs. As Council has pointed out to State and Federal Governments many times previously, many of these communities are childcare/early education deserts.

They deserve more and ignoring these service gaps risks putting our youngest residents further behind their peers in other areas.

We are also disappointed in the process which has led to this announcement, which we believe is a failure of governance. Council has not been kept informed during this process until a decision was made.

Our communities, who were looking forward to a result which would benefit local families, will be equally disappointed.

Council stands willing to help both Federal and State Government ensure that we can ease the pressure on them and future residents of one of Australia’s most productive agricultural areas - an area which has huge potential, but which needs to be backed up with the types of services that will attract new residents and encourage those already here to stay.

We would welcome the opportunity to further discuss the needs of Loddon Shire’s children.

They deserve nothing less.