The attack comes after the federal government’s commitment of $2.4 million to ensure more than 1900 pre-pres-schoolers in Wannon had access to 15 hours a week of early learning.

But the state government pointed to a report, Lifting Our Game, of a national education review on early childhood services which noted that short term funding arrangements would hurt the industry by causing uncertainty and made it difficult for future planning.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos said the report confirmed that investing in the early years was the greatest public return on education investment that could be made.

“Victorian mums and dads – and kinder operators – are being short-changed by the Turnbull Government’s on-again, off-again funding deals,” she said.

On Thursday, Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said the government wanted to give children the best start to their education.

He said the funding meant children in the year before school would continue to have access to 15 hours of preschool a week in 2019.

“We know that a quality preschool education is essential for laying the foundations for successful learning, including the transition to full-time school and future school success,” he said. 

“This funding for pre-schoolers in Wannon gives certainty for families and children.”