09 DecELAA CEO’s Group receives response from Federal Minister on ‘15 Hours’
ELAA has received the attached response from Minister Birmingham in response to our letter of 29 November regarding the future of the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education beyond the current agreement’s expiry on 31 December 2017. The Minister has also requested that we share his response with all those members and supporters who have signed our petition to Keep funding 15 hours .
We will be looking to meet with the Minister early in the New Year to discuss this important issue further.
While we are delighted that the Minister reiterates the Turnbull Government’s commitment to ensuring that all children have access to quality early learning and care, we are concerned that the Commonwealth contribution to preschool funding through the National Partnership Agreement is described as having only ever been a “top-up” contribution. This is not ELAA’s view. We regard this funding as both critical to ensuring 15 hours of quality early learning for every child in the year before school, and an important demonstration of the shared commitment by all Australian Governments to the longer-term economic and social benefits of investment in early learning.
Response from Minister Birmingham
Shane Lucas, CEO
