Page 3207 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 19 August 2008
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two Fridays ago—to discuss the detailed implementation of the federal government’s early childhood agenda and the role that state and territory governments can play in that process.
It is an exciting time for early childhood education. The ACT continues, along with South Australia, to be a leading jurisdiction not only in Australia but in the world with. the latest thinking and research around early childhood education—working in conjunction with the federal government, which, for the first time in at least 11 or 12 years, has shown an interest in education. Everyone in Australia except the Liberal Party—
MR SPEAKER: Come back to the subject matter of the question.
MR BARR: believes in the importance of investment in early childhood education. Everyone in Australia—
MR SPEAKER: Come back to the subject matter of the question.
MR BARR: The subject matter of the question relates to early childhood education. Everyone in Australia except the Liberal Party—
MR SPEAKER: It is not about the Liberal Party. Come back to the question that was put to you.
MR BARR: believes that there has been underinvestment in early childhood education. A federal government, under the Liberals, over 12 years, failed to invest in early childhood education. What we now have is a commonwealth government and an ACT government working together to improve early childhood education, to expand the quality of facilities and to expand the number of hours that are accessible for parents, working to develop four new early childhood schools that will involve the co-location of a range of services across education, health, community services and disability services, creating a one-stop shop from birth to eight years, an innovative program to ensure that the ACT maintains its position, leading Australia and leading the world in the development of progressive early childhood policies.
This government is investing record amounts. The most recent budget—2008-09—involved a $13.8 million investment in early childhood education, expanding facilities, expanding the number of government-funded hours for preschool education and working with the commonwealth government to achieve even better outcomes for young children in the territory.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Seselja?
MR SESELJA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. How can the community trust any of your 2008 election promises when you have failed to honour your 2004 election commitments?
MR BARR: The community need only look at this government’s record of investment in education and our capacity to deliver on our commitments in education.
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