Thursday, 20 March 2025

Early childhood education and care

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (23:38): (1542) My adjournment matter for the Minister for Local Government concerns cost shifting and the latest example of Victoria’s councils being forced to pay to deliver the political promises of the state Labor government. Councils like Warrnambool City Council are tasked by the state government with transitioning four-year-old kindergarten to pre-prep. In 2026, regional councils like Warrnambool City Council must offer 16 to 20 hours weekly, with priority for vulnerable children and those identifying as Aboriginal or from refugee backgrounds or those with child protection contact. Warrnambool City Council has outlined serious concerns shared by others in this tranche. As of now, no funding model details for 2026 have been provided by the Victorian government. Budgets for the 2025–26 financial year are being finalised, as is enrolment planning for 2026, with applications opening in April 2025 imminently. Without funding clarity how can councils begin to plan effectively? Services cannot budget for what they do not know. The impact on local government budgets is substantial, and it is either disrespectful or incompetent, or perhaps both, for councils to be treated this way. The policy itself also poses challenges for council. Increasing the hours offered from 15 to 16 per week requires an estimated 60 additional educator hours weekly and factoring in teaching, planning and compliance with the early childhood education award. This assumes existing staff want more hours, an assumption which is pretty dangerous in regional Victoria, which is suffering, especially in this sector, of serious workforce shortages.

I know that Warrnambool City Council is seeking exemptions for multiple sites from implementing 16 hours, aiming to minimise disruption to families, reduce costs and protect staff, ensuring services do not overpromise and underdeliver. Yet without funding details, building a viable service model remains impossible. This is not just Warrnambool’s issue. Other councils in the 2026 rollout face similar uncertainty, pointing to a broader coordination gap. The government extended the rollout to 2036, acknowledging implementation challenges, yet immediate support for 2026 remains absent. Councils are left scrambling, as budgets are due now.

The action I seek from the minister tonight is a commitment for some clear and timely communication with these councils. It is the least they should expect. When will the funding model for 2026 be communicated to the sector? Councils need this information urgently to deliver services. Will a constructive view be taken on exemptions requested? This is a state government initiative, a state government promise, but the political plaudits go to ministers in Melbourne. The very least you should be doing, Minister, is ensuring the councils delivering this service for you are properly informed and properly funded.