DAN REPACHOLI MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR HUNTER
LAURA HUGHES
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR NEW ENGLAND
MEDIA RELEASE
17 April 2025
LABOR WILL DELIVER TWO NEW
CHILD CARE CENTRES FOR THE HUNTER
A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will invest up to $10 million towards building new child care services in Cessnock and Muswellbrook.
We’ve already made child care cheaper for more than 1 million Australian families. But we know that in some areas, families are still struggling to find a local child care place.
That’s why we’re announcing this election commitment to build new child care centres and expand services, in areas of need – including in the Hunter.
This new child care sites will be located within Cessnock West Public School and Muswellbrook Public School – making drop off easier for families and letting children start their early education at their local school. Services will be operated by high-quality, not-for-profit providers to give children the best start.
Only Labor has a plan to build a universal early childhood education system that is simple, affordable and accessible for every family and where every child is guaranteed access to at least three days of high-quality early childhood education and care.
Labor knows that building Australia’s future is about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about investing in people, in skills, and in education.
That’s why the Albanese Labor Government has replaced the Liberal’s unfair Activity Test with a 3 Day Guarantee.
Thanks to the Labor Government, families will be eligible to access at least three days a week of subsidised childcare from January 2026.
We’ve also funded a 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators – helping grow the workforce so more children can access early education. We’ll also keep fees low for families by capping fee increases as part of our wage increase.
Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi:
"This is about giving local kids the best start in life, getting them ready for school, and making life a bit easier for hardworking families.
"Labor wants to give every kid a fair go. Peter Dutton has voted against that. He’s a real risk to making child care fair and available for everyone.
"Peter Dutton looks at child care as just dollars and cents. Labor sees it as something that helps our kids, supports families, and builds a better future.
"Only a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will make sure every family can get affordable, quality child care, no matter where they live or how much they earn.
"Building this new centre at Cessnock West Public School means kids can start learning in the same place they’ll go to school, and it makes drop-off easier for parents.
"When we invest in child care, we’re investing in our future, helping kids get the best start and making it easier for parents to get back to work or study.
"We’re making sure early childhood educators get better pay and conditions because if we want the best for our kids, we need to support the people looking after them."
Quotes attributable to Labor Candidate for New England, Laura Hughes:
“Investing in child care is an investment in Australia's future – ensuing our littlest Australians have the best possible start in life.
“Every family deserves to have access to affordable early childhood care and education, no matter where they live.
“Peter Dutton is a risk to universal access to child care for Australian Families. He opposed Labor’s cheaper child care initiative, and hasn’t supported Labor’s commitment to build more child care centres in outer urban and regional Australia.
“Only the Albanese Labor Government will ensure every Australian family has access to child care.
“This investment is a game-changer for kids and families in New England.
“These new sites will be critical to supporting the future of these communities.”
