Council
29 August, 2024
Care costs pushed on council, MP warns
MEMBER for Western Victoria Bev McArthur has pushed the Victorian Government on concerns costs associated with kindergartens are being pushed onto local councils.
Mrs McArthur raised the question in Parliament recent with Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn, saying the Economy and Infrastructure Committee inquiry into local government funding and services had revealed councils across Victoria were reducing or cutting services as costs increasingly were pushed onto local government.
“I have long said that free kinder is not free for ratepayers,” she said.
“The Labor government claims the credit but leaves councils to pick up significant parts of the bill.
“Council after council 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?”
Mrs McArthur was asked to rephrase her question to make it relevant to the Minister for Children, opting instead to ask when adequate state funding to cover free kinder would be provided without ratepayers picking up the bill.
In response, Mrs Blandthorn said she was “more than happy” to talk about 90 per cent of services offering free kinder, support provided to local government and $2500 per child for free 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,” she said.
“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;
“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.”
Mrs McArthur hit back at the response, saying Corangamite Shire Council estimates it will need to cover “north of $10 million” in funding shortfalls, and said a chief executive officer at a different council had said Building Blocks grants were not covering the costs of new or upgraded kindergartens.
“So much for free kindergartens,” she said.
“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 instead of writing cheques local councils have to cash?”
Mrs Blandthorn responded with claims the Opposition had pushed for direct charges to be introduced to kinder.
“When we say ‘free kinder’ we are talking about the cost-of-living pressures for parents of three- and four-year-old children,” she said.
“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.”