Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Kindergarten funding

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:41): (611) My question is for the Minister for Children. Minister, the Economy and Infrastructure Committee is conducting an inquiry into local government funding and services, and it is no surprise to hear the Allan Labor government’s inability to manage money is now forcing councils across Victoria to reduce or cut services for their residents. I have long said that free kinder is not free for ratepayers. The Labor government claims the credit but leaves councils to pick up significant parts of the bill. Council after council have told us the burden of the Allan Labor government’s promises falls on ratepayers and budgets are at breaking point. Minister, which residents services should councils cut to finance kinder costs your government is failing to provide?

The PRESIDENT: The problem I have with that question is that this minister is not responsible for council services. Could you rephrase it to make it relevant to the minister, Mrs McArthur.

Bev McARTHUR: Thank you, President. Minister, this is about free kinder. Are you going to provide free kinder, in full, to all residents in Victoria – ratepayers in Victoria – or do the ratepayers have to pick up the bill? Are you going to provide all the costs or not?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:43): Thank you very much, Mrs McArthur, for your question. I hear those behind me suggesting perhaps it is a Dorothy – I thought we got rid of those – but I am more than happy to talk about the benefits of free kinder. What is more, I am more than happy to talk about the more than 90 per cent of services that are offering free kinder, and I am more than happy to talk about all of the support that we provide to local government in addition to the $2500 per child for free kinder.

For a start, to go to the essence of your question, as the President indicated, I cannot talk about what other services council do support, but I can talk about the support that we give to local government for kinder. We have free kinder funding, which for local government run sessional services is 30 to 40 per cent higher than average parent fees which were previously charged; a 40 per cent increase in funding for early years management for sessional services in 2024 compared to the 2021 funding rates, noting that approximately half of all early years managers in Victoria are our local councils – so direct beneficiaries of that funding; $4.8 million to expand the kindergarten central registration and enrolment scheme grants program for local government – and this is a significant increase compared to the $1.6 million that it was in previous years; the workforce planning support program grants for local councils, which create strategic five-year workforce plans – and this is absolutely critical in the delivery of our Best Start, Best Life $14 billion reforms; and the $5.2 million for the kindergarten infrastructure and services plan grants program, which is helping local governments to identify when and where to invest in early childhood services.

Many of those opposite and many of those in the other place on your side of the chamber as well as ours are most welcoming of all of this support to ensure that in their local communities we are offering free kinder for children. Three- and four-year-old kindergarten, we know, is of direct benefit to children. It sets them up for their lifelong learning. Programs such as these and support such as this for councils to offer those kindergarten programs are absolutely critical.

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:45): Can you just confirm that free kinder is not free? Because you are not providing 100 per cent of the costs to provide your free kindergarten. Minister, your grants application process is time-consuming and costly for councils.

Members interjecting.

Bev McARTHUR: Corangamite shire estimate that they will need –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Bev McARTHUR: Thank you, President. Corangamite shire estimate that they will need to find north of $10 million, and a different council CEO told us the Building Blocks grants on offer are increasingly not covering the full cost of new or upgraded kindergartens – so much for free kindergartens! Forcing councils to come begging for grants and then giving them less than they need lands local ratepayers with the bill for the difference. Minister, if you want to promise free services, when will you pay the full cost yourself –

Members interjecting.

Bev McARTHUR: instead of writing cheques local councils have to cash?

The PRESIDENT: Order! Mrs McArthur, can you just ask that last bit of the question – the actual question – I did not hear it. And can she do it so that we can all hear her.

Bev McARTHUR: Minister, forcing councils to come begging for grants and then giving them less than they need lands local ratepayers with the bill for the difference. If you want to promise services, when will you pay the full cost yourself instead of writing cheques local councils have to cash?

The PRESIDENT: That was a bit different, but I will call the minister.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:47): It was a bit different, but the common theme is free kinder, and those opposite need to decide whether or not they support it. Those opposite need to decide whether or not they support free kinder, and when we say ‘free kinder’ we are talking about the cost-of-living pressures for parents of three- and four-year-old children. We all know how expensive it is to raise a family, and we are providing free kinder to assist with that. Those opposite need to decide whether they support it. The shadow minister wrote to me asking for us to be able to charge fees. She does not clearly support it, but you opposite need to decide whether or not you support it and whether you are on board with free kinder or not.