Page 838 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 27 February 2013
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Apart from directly funding childcare capital works, we have also ensured that our land release policies recognise the importance of this vital service. To this end, land was sold recently, last year, in Holt, Gungahlin and Oxley for new education and care centres. The government is also aware of new centres being planned for Giralang, Taylor, Crace and Gungahlin. In addition, the government funds the provision of 76 public preschools. This ensures that each and every child has access to preschool education in the year before attending primary school. The two new preschools commenced operations this year, servicing young families in the newly established suburbs of Franklin and Bonner.
There is more work to do, but we are getting on with it, despite the negativity of those opposite who have no childcare policy. Delivering high quality child care for Canberra’s families may be considered too extreme for them and too progressive, but we see it as important. That is why we invest in child care and support Canberra families.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: What further expansions to—
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members! Minister Burch, I cannot hear Ms Porter asking you a supplementary question because you are interjecting across the chamber.
Mr Doszpot interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, you are not helping.
MS PORTER: Minister, what further expansions to the sector can we expect in the near future?
MS BURCH: The ACT government supports education and care providers to establish new centres through the direct sale of land and advisory support during the planning and regulatory approach processes.
Opposition members interjecting—
MS BURCH: The interjections coming from that side show that they seriously have no interest in Canberra families and our growth in childcare centres. I remember being asked about what we are doing for childcare centres in many, many question times, I think under your direction, Madam Speaker. They have no interest, no policy brought to the election, no investment. Not one dollar, not one word—
MADAM SPEAKER: Minister Burch, answer the question directly, please. This is not a conversation with the opposition. If you respond to the opposition’s interjections, I am sure you will only just encourage them to interject more. The standing orders
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