Early Childhood Education

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister update the house on the effect the federal leadership change will have on her portfolio responsibilities, particularly early childhood?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for the Public Sector) (15:10): I thank the member for her question. I would of course like to start by congratulating minister Simon Birmingham on his elevation to cabinet and also the very important role of education and training. As someone who's recently had that experience at a state level, moving into the education portfolio is one of the greatest opportunities someone in public life can have to be involved in assisting young people to reach their potential through their education. I am also extremely hopeful that minister Birmingham will take a more consultative and engaging process to education than I've experienced to date.

The member has specifically asked about early childhood. Of course, in South Australia, led indeed by our Premier from the time that he held this role, we have long seen the importance of investing in early childhood. We have been a leader in this country in not only investing but also in elevating the subject of early childhood development, the importance of it for families. We had the late Dr Fraser Mustard, the former Adelaide Thinker in Residence, who pointed out, as members who have paid attention will recall, that every dollar the government spends supporting the development of children saves between $4 and $8 in the longer term.

Our government has always been focused on early childhood. As members will be aware, we've not only increased our investment, we are also building children's centres. We have 42 already and another five are in the process. What I am pleased about in seeing changes at the federal level is not only the elevation of minister Birmingham but also the addition of early childhood into the education portfolio. It was in the wrong place being treated as either welfare or a way of dealing with work entitlement for parents. What early childhood is all about is starting the education journey as early as possible, and to move it into education and training shows that they've paid attention, perhaps, to what we're doing in South Australia.

Our Premier has been not only leading since the time he held my position but also more recently in the COAG process in the reform of federation process in taking the leadership role in looking at the role of early childhood and the way in which we can get more kids into preschool and even younger earlier and also picking up the way in which parents interact with their children from the very beginning to make sure that their developmental needs are being met. So, I look forward to meeting with minister Birmingham as soon as possible to discuss these matters, and I will of course be raising the question of the years 5 and 6 Gonski funding when I do so.