Has anyone seen Maxine?

07-November-2008

“She rode into Parliament as the woman who toppled a Prime Minister in his own seat. She was lauded as a new great talent of the Australian Labor Party but has anyone heard recently from Maxine McKew? Isn’t she part of the so-called “education revolution?” Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Childcare Sophie Mirabella MP said today

“Ms McKew, the first person to hold the specific portfolio responsibility for Early Childhood Education and Childcare has been embarrassingly silent on the collapse of ABC Learning Centres,” Mrs Mirabella said.

It has become apparent today that Ms McKew’s office is refusing to take calls on the issue of ABC Learning and all calls are being directed to Julia Gillard’s office.

“The Government has known about the serious troubles surrounding ABC Learning Centres for nine months and still nothing has been done. It has spoken of the existence of contingency plans but even this morning, a day after ABC Learning went into voluntary administration, Ms McKew it is reported ‘declined to provide details of what contingency plans were under consideration,’ Mrs Mirabella said

“It appears from the Parliamentary Secretary’s official website that she has put out one release about ABC Learning and that was in June about fee increases. Since then, there has been nothing. Has she been involved in developing policy for her own portfolio?”

“There has been no reference made at all to ABC Learning in the Parliament this year by the Parliamentary Secretary. This shows the extent of her concern for the 120,000 children and 16,000 dedicated ABC workers who are facing such a nervous time,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“If Ms McKew is not capable of responding to this issue then Mr Rudd should sack her and give someone else the job who can represent concerned ABC parents appropriately.”

“If she is not allowed or cannot do the job then she should not be paid the extra salary,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.