GOVERNMENT IN CHAOS NEGLECTS PRESCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

Last week in Senate Estimates the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government confirmed yet again their complete lack of interest or commitment to early education and preschool funding.

When asked if the national partnership agreement for 2019 preschool year has been signed yet, departmental officials confirmed it had not.

 

In all the chaos of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government, they have prioritised their own jobs and neglected to sign off on the national partnership agreement.  

 

In fact, officials revealed the agreement was only sent to the states and territories on 25 September – three months before the new year begins.

 

The former Minister for Education and Training announced the government’s agreement to rollover the funding for 2019 back on 3 February 2018.

 

So why was there an almost eight month delay in getting the agreement out the door?

 

The agreement is just another rollover – there is no rational explanation for this 234 day delay.

 

This is a government addicted to making announcements but not interested in doing any of the paperwork of governing.

 

Further, the government confirmed there is no funding or commitment from the Liberal Government to extend preschool funding beyond next year.

 

When asked if there was any funding allocated for preschools in 2020, the reply was; ‘that’s a matter for government’

 

When asked if there are issues that need to be addressed before a commitment can be made; ‘that’s a matter for government’

 

Finally, when asked if the government can guarantee it will continue to fund preschools at the current funding levels; ‘that’s a matter for government’.

 

Translation; No.  

 

This chaotic and dysfunctional government is shamefully planning to walk away from the 350,000 four year olds currently in the preschool program.