Universal Access Program

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:31): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development, and I also congratulate you on your election to high office, sir. Can the minister update the house regarding the continuation of federal funding for increased preschool access for South Australian children?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:31): I thank the member for Colton for this question. The former federal Labor government, with state and territory governments, established the Universal Access Program to increase the hours of preschool that children receive in the year before commencing full-time schooling from 12 hours a week to 15 hours a week. We entered that agreement because this government recognises that early childhood education is the foundation on which later education is based, and that is why we have made the early years one of our highest priorities across government.

This is an important social issue and it is an important economic issue to ensure that our children develop to their best potential. This national partnership agreement on early childhood education was aimed at improving early childhood services throughout Australia, and importantly, lifting participation. This partnership provides $955 million nationally; in 2012-13, it delivered $30.9 million to the South Australian preschool sector.

On 11 April, I joined fellow education and early childhood ministers in Canberra for the Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood. At this standing council, South Australia sought agreement from the Abbott Liberal government for their ongoing financial commitment which funds the additional hours of preschool here in South Australia. These extra preschool hours are critical in giving our kids the best possible start to their formal education, and funding ceases at the end of this year.

Not surprisingly, the other states and territories were also extremely concerned about the very real possibility that our preschool-aged children will have their access cut. In South Australia, as I said, it is three hours per week (20 per cent). In some jurisdictions where state governments do not fund access to preschool at the same level as the South Australian government, access could drop to as low as 10 hours a week. South Australia invests nearly double the national average in the early years.

Our children's centres, our preschools and, importantly, our families, have worked hard to provide the best possible learning experience for our youngsters. Removal of this funding will cause chaos in the system and distress to something like 20,000 families in South Australia alone. Our children should not be the subject of Tony Abbott's costcutting; they deserve better.

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond, whom I should have called to order much earlier, is now called to order. I see the member for Unley.