Kate Ellis (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes the:

(a ) importance of quality early childhood education in preparing children for school, and the overwhelming evidence of the positive impact that access to kindergarten and preschool has on life outcomes; and

(b ) growing evidence of the enormous social and economic returns that are generated by investment in quality early childhood education;

(2) recognises the progress that has been made in increasing access to kindergarten and preschool since the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education was introduced in 2008, including:

(a ) an increase in the proportion of Australian children who attend 15 hours of quality early childhood education in the year before school from just 12 per cent in 2008, to over 56 per cent in 2012; and

(b ) evidence that Australian children who access quality early education for 15 hours a week go on to score significantly better in Year Three NAPLAN tests and achieve higher results in Year Four reading, maths and science;

(3) notes the uncertainty surrounding future funding for kindergarten and preschool and understands the impact this has on the sector, teachers, educators and parents balancing work and family; and

(4) calls on the Government to provide certainty of funding for kindergartens and preschools, with the continued goal of ensuring every child receives 15 hours of quality early education a week in the year before school.

I am very pleased to move the motion that has been circulated in my name in regard to the critical importance of early-childhood education and also the need for this Abbot government to step up to the plate and provide much needed certainty about funding for this nation's kindergartens and preschools as a matter of urgency.

It is unfortunate that I still need, in 2014, to outline the evidence around the critical importance of quality early-childhood education and preschool to our national parliament, but it seems that is the case. That is necessary, and we can see that as a result of many of the statements those opposite have made—and many of them misguided statements. In the face of overwhelming evidence, we are still having a debate about whether or not the government should be providing 15 hours of critical access to early-childhood education.

We know that the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education was negotiated as part of the 2008 COAG agreement. Already, we can see that the results of providing enhanced access to preschool for every Australian child are convincing. Education at a Glance 2014: OECD Indicators states that a growing body of research recognises that early-childhood education and care brings a wide range of benefits:

including social and economic benefits; better child well-being and learning outcomes; more equitable outcomes and reduction of poverty; increased intergenerational social mobility; higher female labour market participation and gender equality; increased fertility rates; and better social and economic development for society at large.

I would say—right there—that paragraph is a pretty compelling case for this government to continue funding.

If that is not enough, we also see Australian research that has been based on information in the Longitudinal Study Of Australian Children, whichfound that those children who attended a preschool program performed better in their year 3 NAPLAN test. The performance in international reading and literacy standards, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, also showed a link between improved reading, maths and science scores and participation in pre-primary education.

It is obvious that if this parliament is going to take seriously its obligations to protect Australia's international competitiveness, to invest in our future economy and our future skills based in our future society, then it must start with a real commitment to early-childhood education. Sadly, that is not what we have seen from those opposite. What we have seen is the entire sector thrown into absolute turmoil and uncertainty for the majority of this year, not knowing whether their funding would be entirely cut by the federal government from the beginning of next year. This uncertainty continued post the budget, where the Abbott government failed to commit funding for preschool and kindergarten. Just recently, we saw a half-hearted announcement that there would be a continuation of some funding for one year only. So the uncertainty continues.

Even the funding that has been now pledged for next year has come with a number of conditions. This government seems to be flip-flopping about whether or not it wants to tell the states and territories what to do when it comes to education funding or whether it wants to get rid of what it calls the 'command and control'. In some areas they want to set the states free and let them do what they want. But now, in preschool and kindergarten, they want to dictate new terms and conditions around that funding without providing any additional funds. That means that right now, in a number of states, we know that next year governments will be trying to split the same amount of funding amongst more centres or more children. That equates to a real cut in preschool and kindergarten funding facing Australia from next year.

That is shameful for a number of reasons, because it flies in the face of evidence. It also means that right around Australia we have the parents' committees sitting around saying, 'What will we do if the Abbott government keeps this uncertainty going or, indeed, confirms that they intend to walk away from preschools and kindergartens?' They are left with one choice. The choice is they either cut the number of hours that Australian children have access to preschool and kindergarten services or they massively increase their fees. Perhaps those opposite might want to rise and say what they suggest one of these two options is, for parents grappling with this decision at kindergartens right across Australia.

We as a parliament should provide bipartisan support for quality early childhood education. We have heard enough nonsense from those opposite. We have heard enough excuses and we have heard enough claims that there is not the evidence to suggest that this is necessary—because, overwhelmingly, there is.

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