Regional families left stranded by Labor’s cruel funding cut

The Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has condemned the Allan Labor Government for axing vital funding that supported new parents through one of the most challenging stages of their lives, the sleep and settling phase of early parenthood.

 Mr McCurdy said the $18,000 cut to the Maternal Child Health Sleep and Settling Program in Wangaratta is yet another blow to regional families already grappling with the pressures of isolation, cost-of-living pressures, and limited access to health services.

 “This is not just a line item on a budget, this is real support for mums, dads and babies at their most vulnerable,” Mr McCurdy said.

 “Families in regional Victoria deserve the same support and care as those in the city, especially in those early months when sleep deprivation, exhaustion and emotional stress are at their peak.”

 More than 100 first-time parents were supported by the program last year in Wangaratta alone, receiving professional guidance that not only helped infants develop healthy sleep routines but also acted as an early intervention for postnatal depression, anxiety, and family stress.

“Cutting this funding sends a clear message from the Allan Labor Government, that regional families are not a priority,” Mr McCurdy said.

“We know how critical early support is to ensuring the wellbeing of both parent and child. This decision strips away an essential safety net, leaving parents to cope alone when they need help the most.”

Mr McCurdy is urging the Minister for Children to immediately reinstate the funding and restore confidence in the Maternal Child Health services so crucial to regional families.

Labor can't manage healthcare, and regional Victorians are paying the price.