Dodgy daycare providers are on notice after several have been caught rorting taxpayers’ money.

Dozens of centres in Melbourne have been shut down for allegedly making up records and pretending to care for non-existent children.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham told Ross and John dodgy centres can expect authorities to “throw the book” at them.

“There are people in jail, there are people facing charges,” Senator Birmingham said.

“(There’s) a clear message to anybody out there who thinks they can get away with this sort of stuff: eventually you will be caught, and you will be punished.”

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Photo: Jeremy Piper / AAP