Mander caught out misleading ECDP families

Published Tuesday, 19 April, 2016 at 07:36 PM

Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism and Major Events
The Honourable Kate Jones

Opposition Education Spokesperson Tim Mander was tonight caught out misleading families about the LNP’s plan to close Early Childhood Development Programs.

Mr Mander told state parliament that ECDPs were never meant to be transitioned to NDIS despite being a member of the Cabinet that decided they the services would be.

Education Minister Kate Jones said if the LNP were re-elected, ECDPs would have been shut down from 2017.

“It was the LNP government that signed off on the agreement to close down ECDPs and quarantine those funds for the NDIS,” Ms Jones said.

“The LNP did this with no idea about what the new services would look like under the NDIS and no plans to support families through the transition.

“Families have been crying out for certainty and that’s why I have I have listened to their concerns and moved to ensure ECDPs remain open until 2020.

“This is a whole year after the full transition to the NDIS in 2019.

“At this time we will be in a strong position to review the NDIS rollout and determine whether ECDP services are still required into the future.

“I call on Mr Mander to come clean, be honest and stop misleading leading vulnerable families.

“If the Member for Everton and the LNP were serious about supporting children with disability they would lobby their federal LNP members, this election year, to ensure the NDIS provides families the information and the services they need about the services available through NDIS.”

Media: Matt Jutsum 0408 998 940