Dr Bruce Flegg
Member for Moggill

Some kindergartens would struggle to survive under Bligh and Labor’s proposed vague funding arrangements, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Education & Training Dr Bruce Flegg said despite a partial back down over future funding arrangements for kindergartens, the proposal only represented a stay of execution until 2014.

"The detail of what Bligh and Labor are proposing has not been publicly announced nor has the letter sent to parents* given a firm dollar commitment to future funding for early childhood services," Dr Flegg said.

"The LNP has always maintained Bligh and Labor’s funding model for funding early childhood services was fatally flawed.

"Although the government seems to have backed down from what was originally proposed, these changes will only stave off the inevitable until 2014.

"The bizarre nature of this half-hearted and unfunded 'commitment' suggests it has more to do with quelling disquiet before the federal election than a real commitment."

Dr Flegg said the uncertainty about future funding for the kindergarten sector meant many were already voicing concerns about future operations, with some predicting they would be unable to survive.

"The importance of appropriate investment in early childhood services cannot be over emphasised, but this model provides no future guarantee," he said.

"The best thing Bligh and Labor can do is scrap their proposed model, go back to the drawing board and start all over again."

*Funding information for parents about kindy funding August 2010 (attached)