Dr Bruce Flegg
Member for Moggill

Labor gives kindys unkindest cuts

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 16:43

1September 2010 

Labor gives kindys unkindest cuts

Proposed funding changes for community-based kindergartens could see them short-changed by $2 million in a single year, the LNP said today. 

Shadow Minister for Education & Training Dr Bruce Flegg said the funding sleight-of-hand would change the decades old system of direct funding of a percentage of community kindergarten payrolls to a voucher system. 

“This long-term Bligh Labor government has removed funding for community-based kindergartens for children aged three to three and a half, or over the age of four and a half,” Dr Flegg said. 

“This will have the effect of reducing funding to most kindergartens by $60,000 - $90,000, which means volunteer community kindergarten boards will no longer have a guarantee they can meet payroll commitments for their kindergartens. 

“Unless this amount can be made up from additional fees charged to parents, many kindergartens will be forced to close.”

 Dr Flegg accused Bligh and Labor of being evasive about the level of the cuts and when they will be introduced. 

“Minister Wilson has told parliament and parents that kindergartens will have Department of Education Creche and Kindergarten Assistance Scheme (DECKAS) indexed funding available until 2014,” he said. 

“However kindergartens contacted by the LNP will still be subject to this massive funding cuts in 2011 despite Minister Wilson’s promises. 

“No one can believe a word this minister and this government says, and that means kindergartens will have to increase their fees or close. 

“Parents and volunteer community kindergarten boards need certainty, and Minister Wilson needs to explain why he has told them one thing about funding but done the complete opposite.”