Page 2421 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 13 August 2014
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There is a lot at stake and, obviously, the New South Wales Government’s ability to support early childhood education would suffer without ongoing support from the Federal Government.
In the same article the Victorian Minister for Early Childhood Wendy Lovell also spoke about the need for the continuation of the program, saying that she was concerned there were:
no positive signs from the Federal Government on the importance of this national partnership and what it has achieved to date for early childhood education in Australia.
Minister Rankine from South Australia said:
If the Federal Government ceases to fund the program, this will mean that more than 20,000 families—
I am assuming in South Australia—
would be impacted.
Here we have ministers from the Labor Party, the Liberal Party and the Nationals in different states and in different contexts all agreeing that this funding is vital to education in this country. I am pleased to be among them in advancing the cause and I am pleased to support Ms Berry’s motion today.
I wish to respond to some comments from Mr Doszpot this morning. He agreed that there was no dispute about the benefits of preschool years. I would hope that in that spirit the Canberra Liberals can support this motion. We have over 4,500 children in preschool and that number is growing. These families have less than four months to have the certainty that they need that their children’s education care and universal access can be maintained to the level of 15 hours per week. Whilst Mr Doszpot may comment about the way those preschool hours are structured, I would like to see a commitment that at least he supports the continuation of 15 hours of universal access to meet the needs of families.
Madam Speaker, in closing, this is almost a non-brainer given that everyone in this chamber who has stood recognises the importance of early education in the lives of children and the aspirations for families to give them the best start to life. This motion clearly and simply calls on me to seek an immediate assurance from the Australian government ministers responsible for early childhood education on the continuation of the national partnership agreement on universal access to early childhood education in the ACT at the existing funding levels and to report to the Assembly later this year on discussions with the Australian government on the future of that national partnership.
I do not know how the Canberra Liberals can object to those two simple requests of me as a minister. Yes, there is a Productivity Commission inquiry. It is due to report in October. That is even less time than now to have assurance and certainty for Canberra families. I would hope that the Canberra Liberals think beyond just the
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