Universal access to early education, or Kindergarten, is shaping up to be a key federal election issue.
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Numbers revealed under Freedom of Information laws and provided by federal Early Education spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth shows that more than two thousand three and four-year-olds in Northern Tasmania would benefit from the $1.7 billion landmark policy pledge made by Bill Shorten in October.
The newly released figures show there would be 1174 three-year-olds and 1,469 four-year-olds in Bass alone who would be able to access the subsidised care.
Bass Labor MP Ross Hart said the plan would see universal access for three and four-year-olds in Tasmania.
He said the plan would see parents and families receive 15 hours per week of subsidised care to allow every child the same access to early education.
“Labor’s policy will see the biggest ever investment in early childhood education in Tasmania. This will provide the best start to the lives of Tasmanian kids,” Ms Rishworth said.
Ms Rishworth said Labor’s policy “proved how serious” the party was about giving children access to quality education.
However, in December, the Australian Government announced it would commit $870 million under a universal access national partnership to “continue Commonwealth support for pre-school in 2018 and 2019."
“This investment will benefit around 348 000 children across all preschool settings in 2019, bringing total Commonwealth investment in preschool to over $3.7 billion since 2008,” a statement read.
The Australian federal election will be held in 2019, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison is yet to call a date.
The Kindergarten policy is very similar to a failed state policy announced last year by Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff, who attempted to establish universal access by lowering the school starting age. The school starting age policy failed in Tasmania after it was revealed the impact it would have on the early childhood sector.
The early education sector warned the state of fewer places and higher prices for child care if the policy was to come into effect.
It is unknown yet how Labor’s policy will impact on the early education sector – Mr Hart said it had not yet been finalised. An early education pilot is planned to be rolled out in Launceston, with a focus on children from Newnham, Rocherlea and Mowbray, which is being trialled by the state government.
As part of the pilot, pre-school children and their families, along with the childcare sector, Tasmanian Council of Social Service, parents and carers, will be involved in the design and development of the full program.