Federal Labor washes its hands of Mansfield Kindergarten crisis and State Labor ignores my plea for help: Sophie

16-February-2009

The issue of the $18,000 funding cut to Mansfield Kindergarten is yet to be resolved. Federal Labor has refused to solve the problem and the State Labor Government has refused to respond to my calls for action,” Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi said today.

“I wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard asking her to work with the Victorian Government to find a solution. She handballed my request to the Acting Minister for Education Brendan O’Connor, who gave no answers,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Mr O’Connor was unable to provide any suggestions on a possible solution to the problem facing Mansfield Kindergarten. Further, he washed his hands of the issue suggesting that as the Victorian Government is responsible for the delivery of pre-school in Victoria I should contact them.”

“The response from the Rudd Government made the bold and ridiculous statement that “The Federal Government had no funds to support preschools in this way” – an absurd comment when $42 Billion is planned to be spent,” Mrs Mirabella said.

The Rudd Government promised better access to affordable, high-quality childcare yet this funding cut goes against the work that they are trying to do in this area.

“This is very disheartening especially at a time when families are struggling under financial pressures. The effects of the Labor funding cut will only add to the pressures on families with children enrolled at Mansfield Kindergarten, as they face:

• Childcare fee increases,
• Increased class sizes and
• Longer waiting lists

“I am extremely disappointed with the response from the Victorian Minister for Childcare and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand. She outlined every reason why the Victorian Government was going to push ahead with this appalling funding cut,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Both Federal and State Labor have made all the promises in the world about childcare and so far have managed to break every one of those commitments. Our local families and childcare will bear the brunt of Labor’s lack of vision and care for kindergartens,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.