Feathers were ruffled after Hobsons Bay mayor Tony Briffa thanked Labor at a sod-turning attended by three Liberal MPs yesterday.
Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Wendy Lovell invited media to the event which marked work starting on the $5.4 million Newport Children’s Hub at Newport Gardens Primary School.
The former state Labor government allocated $1 million to the project before losing government in 2010 and Hobsons Bay Council contributed the rest.
The centre will house long day care, a kindergarten, maternal and child health services, Yooralla’s Early Intervention Service, Hobsons Bay Toy Library and playgroups.
Cr Briffa later posted on his Facebook page: “I am not surprised my speech went down like a wet balloon with the minister and the two local Liberal MPs in attendance.”
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn, also at the ceremony, said on Facebook: “The city of Hobsons Bay desperately needs a new mayor. The current one does the people of that municipality no good at all.”
Ms Lovell said she didn’t think Cr Briffa raised any eyebrows. “I would expect the mayor should advocate for their community. I’m from that community. In fact, I went to that school. The funding is from the taxpayers of Victoria. It’s state funding.”
