5 years ago
MORRISON MUST PROVIDE FUNDING CERTAINTY
CHRIS BOWEN MP
In its biggest snub yet, the Liberals have neglected to place preschool funding on the agenda for today’s Education Council meeting of ministers.
Even though funding for preschools expires in 12 months, the Abbott Turnbull Government could not be bothered to list it on the agenda.
This is the clearest sign yet they are not committed to funding preschools beyond the 2019 school year.
With MYEFO due out on Monday, the Morrison Government has a chance to show it does care and provide funding certainty to four year old preschool.
There are more than 350,000 four year olds pre-schoolers around Australia who rely on this funding but as it stands, the Liberals would rather leave them in limbo.
In stark contrast, Labor announced earlier this year that we would provide ongoing funding certainty for four year old preschool and extend the program to three year olds.
Labor’s $1.75 billion National Preschool and Kindy Program will guarantee around 700,000 Australian children a year will be able to access subsidised preschool in the two years before school.
Labor also announced it would reverse the Liberals savage $20 million cut to the national quality agenda which safeguards our nation’s preschools.
This is the biggest ever investment in early childhood education in Australia.
If the Liberals are serious about early education and giving children the best start in life they will fund preschools in MYEFO, rather than try to build a surplus on the backs of preschools.
Even though funding for preschools expires in 12 months, the Abbott Turnbull Government could not be bothered to list it on the agenda.
This is the clearest sign yet they are not committed to funding preschools beyond the 2019 school year.
With MYEFO due out on Monday, the Morrison Government has a chance to show it does care and provide funding certainty to four year old preschool.
There are more than 350,000 four year olds pre-schoolers around Australia who rely on this funding but as it stands, the Liberals would rather leave them in limbo.
In stark contrast, Labor announced earlier this year that we would provide ongoing funding certainty for four year old preschool and extend the program to three year olds.
Labor’s $1.75 billion National Preschool and Kindy Program will guarantee around 700,000 Australian children a year will be able to access subsidised preschool in the two years before school.
Labor also announced it would reverse the Liberals savage $20 million cut to the national quality agenda which safeguards our nation’s preschools.
This is the biggest ever investment in early childhood education in Australia.
If the Liberals are serious about early education and giving children the best start in life they will fund preschools in MYEFO, rather than try to build a surplus on the backs of preschools.