National Party to cut local kindergartens

Member for Albert, Margaret Keech has condemned plans by the National Party to slash early education opportunities for local children.

Ms Keech, said the National Party has confirmed it will axe the Bligh Government’s $300 million plan for 240 new and expanded kindergartens across Queensland – including the new $1.7 million kindergarten to be built at Gaven State School by the end of 2011.

Shadow Minister Rosemary Menkens also revealed they are planning to cut funding to all C&K kindergartens by $39 million over the next three years.

“The National Party clearly doesn’t care about providing our kids with the best possible start in life,” Ms Keech said.

“They will scrap our $300 Million plan to provide quality early education for kids right across Queensland – and replace it with a mere $75 million ‘Community Kindergarten Fund’ over three years.

“This means 20 new kindergarten services in the Gold Coast District and 19 in the Logan, Albert and Beaudesert District to be delivered by 2014 will be canned.

“The National Party plan will cut funding for C&K kindergartens by $13 million a year.

“Local parents would be right to ask – what is the National Party’s plan for our kids if they want to cancel the 39 new kindies planned for our region and reduce funding for existing services?”

Ms Keech said the Bligh Government is committed to providing Queensland children with access to high quality early education before they start school.

“Labor’s plan will give our children a flying start by ensuring that all three and a half to four and a half year olds have access to a high quality kindergarten program delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher,” Ms Keech said.

“The National Party will throw this plan for our children’s future in the bin.

“Their proposed planned cuts to C&K funding will also leave parents to pick up the additional cost – and in these tough economic times that means many kids will be forced to go without.

Mrs Keech said children would also miss out on a new kindy at Mudgeeraba State School, one of the first to be opened by the end of next year under Labor’s plan.

“While Labor is looking over the horizon to plan for our growing community, the National Party wants to take us backwards.

“Early education is obviously just another peripheral for Lawrence Springborg. Children on the Gold Coast would suffer under this out-of-touch party.

“Mr Springborg has said no frontline jobs will go under a National Party Government, but you don’t get more frontline than kindy teachers.

“Labor’s early education plan will create 3350 jobs statewide, including 850 kindy teachers and 2500 job during construction of the new facilities.

“The Nationals plan will see all of these jobs lost.

“While the Labor plan is a win-win for families – the National’s plan is a lose-lose.”

Media Contact: Nadine Eckert 3235 9236