McCurdy demands action on Labor’s broken childcare promise

The Nationals’ Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has called out the Allan Labor Government for abandoning regional families, after it was revealed that only four of the 50 early childhood centres promised in 2023 have been delivered.

Mr McCurdy said the childcare shortage across Northern Victoria had reached crisis point, with many local towns now classified as “childcare deserts”, communities with little to no access to early learning and care.

“In 2023 Labor promised 50 new early childhood centres by 2028, but two years on, only four have been built. Now the timeline has been quietly pushed out to beyond 2032,” Mr McCurdy said.

“Families across the Ovens Valley and beyond are being forced to wait years, travel long distances, or give up work altogether because childcare simply doesn’t exist in their communities.”

Mr McCurdy said regional areas faced unique challenges that required tailored solutions, yet the government continued to apply metro-centric policies that don’t fit the realities of country life.

“Staffing ratios, rigid regulations, and a lack of support are making it near impossible to attract and retain childcare providers in rural towns,” he said.

“Communities are crying out for flexible, innovative approaches, whether it’s mobile childcare, using community spaces like town halls, or employer-supported models, but those calls are falling on deaf ears.”

“Every family deserves access to reliable early learning services, no matter where they live. Labor made a promise, and regional families are still waiting. It’s time to deliver.”

Labor can't manage childcare, and regional families are paying the price.