General News
14 November, 2022
Care v comms
A $1.9 million communications budget for Wedderburn College’s upgrade would instead fund a Coalition child care centre pledge. Liberal candidate Louise Staley told last week's Ripon candidate forum the co-located centre would be built within the...
A $1.9 million communications budget for Wedderburn College’s upgrade would instead fund a Coalition child care centre pledge.
Liberal candidate Louise Staley told last week's Ripon candidate forum the co-located centre would be built within the college’s $12.9 million upgrade budget.
While there are expected to be at least five candidates contesting Ripon at the November 26 state election, only Ms Staley and her Labor challenger Martha Haylett attended the forum in Wedderburn.
Ms Staley told the forum there was a $1.9 million allocation to communicate the school upgrade with the community. “We think that $1.9 million can be much better spent building child care for you and that’s what we’ll do with it,” Ms Staley said.
Loddon Shire is Victoria’s only 100 per cent child care desert.
Ms Haylett said the absence of child care in the shire was a significant issue but stopped short of committing to matching the Coalition commitment.
She said: “I am really pushing hard for any child care services in this shire ... that is one I am really passionate about and you’ve absolutety got my support in terms of advocating to get child care.”
The Labor Government has announced it will build 50 co-located centres in areas of demand to open by 2025.
The Government last week said it would have “more to say soon” on locations.
Ms Staley said under a Coalition government, construction of a Wedderburn child centre would start next year. The forum live stream brought multiple online comments from Loddon residents calling for immediate action on child care.
Candidates were also questioned by the forum audience on aged care, mobile connectivity, infrastructure investment and population growth while local farmer leader Graham Nesbit called for better investment in rail freight to reduce road use.