In a media release issued today the Deputy Labor Leader, Tanya Plibersek, and Labor’s candidate for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, said that Malcolm Turnbull’s new child care regime has left 953 families in the Gilmore electorate are worse off. It was also revealed that further south in Eden Monaro 1209 familes will be worse off with 2047 preschoolers left in limbo from 2020 because of Liberal's planned pre-school cuts.
"Families in Gilmore rely on child care support to balance the household budget.
"Now many families are having to make a choice between paying more for early education, or keeping their children at home to save on costs.
Ms Plibersek and Ms Phillips visited Jerry Bailey Children’s Centre in Shoalhaven Heads today for Early Learning Matters week.
"The visit was an opportunity to hear directly from early educators about the important role they play in educating our youngest minds."
"On top of the Liberals’ childcare debacle, it was revealed this week that 350,000 children across Australia will miss out on preschool because Malcolm Turnbull is set to cut $440 million from the national preschool program when the current funding expires in June 2020." said Ms Plibersek
"This is a disgraceful act from the Liberals, which leaves more than 2000 preschoolers in the Gilmore electorate in limbo in 2020."
Ms Plibersek said since the first preschool agreement was signed by Labor in 2008, preschool enrolments had increased from 77 per cent to almost 93 per cent.
“There is no doubt that access to four year old preschool gives our children the best head start for school and for life,” Ms Plibersek.
“The Liberals have used Early Learning Matters Week to finally confirm they will be cutting funding to the national preschools and kindy program.
“What kind of government cuts funding to preschools and kindies while giving $17 billion to the big banks – Malcolm Turnbull’s priorities are all wrong.”
Ms Phillips said that Early Learning Matters Week highlights how the first five years of life are critical to children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development.
”This latest cut to universal access to preschool, is exactly the kind of ‘gift’ local families have come to expect from Ann Sudmalis and the Liberal Government,” Ms Phillips said.
Above: Deputy Labor Leader, Tanya Plibersek, and Labor’s candidate for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, said that Malcolm Turnbull’s new child care regime has left Gilmore families worse off.
