Constituency questions
Murray Plains electorate
Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) (14:46): (6486) My constituency question is to the Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, and I ask the minister what advice she can give my constituents as to the work that is being done to relieve the overworked childcare system in my electorate. My office has been under siege from parents wanting explanations as to why they are number 50, number 60 or number 70 on the waiting list for the limited number of childcare facilities in the major towns in my electorate, and my constituents in the smaller communities are in an even worse position. At a time when our economy is crying out for more staff, a better, larger and more affordable childcare system that actually works, that is actually designed to cater for the needs of towns like Swan Hill, Kerang, Echuca and Kyabram, would instantly unlock hundreds of people to return to the workforce. I ask the minister if she could give advice back to my constituents about that.