Politics & Council
10 March, 2026
Carfe grab gone deal as minister's letter gave locals hope
THE State Government had signed a childcare funding agreement with Canberra almost a month before telling a Loddon lobby group it was identifying local towns where a $5 million federal commitment could be spent.
Inglewood and District Community Bank deputy chair Max Higgs received the letter from Victorian Minister for Children, Lizzie Blandthorn, on February 19.
The next day Ms Blandthorn and federal ministers Jason Clare and Jess Walsh announced the new funding partnership, scuttling hopes that Labor’s federal election eve commitment last May could boost childcare in Inglewood and Boort.
Two major towns had been lobbying for a share of the money to end their place in Australia’s childcare desert.
Instead, the partnership announcement saw the $5 million used for the already built and opened State Government early learning centre in Wedderburn.
Minister Walsh’s office on Monday confirmed the federal funding agreement was finalised on January 19.
Dr Higgs, who is part of the bank-auspiced Inglewood-Bridgewater early childhood education and care centre steering committee, repeated his criticism of the diversion of money to an existing centre. “We have been treated with unsophisticated, unconscionable rudeness and contempt by our federal and state governments,” Dr Higgs said.
We have been acting in good faith, our federal and state governments have not.”
Dr Higgs said he had replied to Ms Blandthorn’s letter:
Re-stating the work his steering committee had already done and the positive results of its feasibility study.
Asking for an opportunity to discuss progress.
Asking for information on what basis a decision on the allocation of the promised $5 million would be made and what the projected time frame is.
He said that since the federal election promise, the steering committee had been working with local, state and federal politicians for a share of that money.
“We’ve our study to Loddon Shire Council and sent it to state and federal politicians,” Dr Higgs said.
Minister Blandthorn’s letter said: “The Victorian Government is working with the Commonwealth to identify opportunities that address undersupply in areas of greatest need to ensure this investment makes the greatest impact”.
Read More: Inglewood, Bridgewater