Victoria Minister for Education Martin Dixon

Peter Garrett’s Blatant Hypocrisy Exposed

Victor P Taffa

The Victorian Government rejects Peter Garrett’s latest attack on Victoria in relation to the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) in today’s The Age newspaper.

“This is rampant hypocrisy from Peter Garrett.” Minister for Education Martin Dixon said.

“Peter Garrett has overseen massive cuts in Commonwealth funding to education in Victoria. Since he became Federal Minister for Education, Victoria has lost millions in anticipated funding for literacy and numeracy in schools, school infrastructure and vocational education, among others.” Mr. Dixon said.

“The Gillard Labor Government abolished the Productivity Places Program, a program which specifically funded Victoria’s vocational education system and provided more than $80 Million for vocational education each year.”

“The Gillard Labor Government has denied Victoria $21 Million in literacy and numeracy funding despite Victorian students performing at the top level.”

“The Gillard Labor Government has ripped $30 Million out of the solar schools program for Victorian schools.” Mr. Dixon said.

“The Gillard Labor Government has withheld $45 Million in BER funding leaving schools in limbo, and refused to provide the $120 Million needed to maintain and operate buildings erected under the BER.”

“This comes on top of the $4.1 Billion in GST revenue which the Gillard Labor Government has taken from Victoria this financial year.” Mr. Dixon said.

“The Gillard Labor Government’s legacy is a litany of flawed projects, from Pink Batts to the BER and Mr. Garrett’s hand has been on many of these.”

This year’s Federal Budget saw funding for a number of education programs reduced or abolished entirely, with likely impacts on Victoria, including:

• Apprenticeship incentives
• Group training incentives
• Incentives for higher technical skills
• Industry training strategies
• Productivity Places Program (abolished entirely)
• High achieving RTOs reward funds
• HECS discounts for upfront payment
• Rewards for high student achievement and quality learning
• Capital development pool of $80M funding a year for universities
• Trade training centres
• High speed broadband for the VET sector

Western Australia Minister for Community Services Robyn McSweeney

State Government Funding Keeps Childcare Doors Open

Victor P Taffa

The State Government has injected a further $164,820 funding to 28 Neighbourhood Model occasional childcare centres adversely affected by the Federal Government’s 2010-11 Budget.

Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney said the Federal Government decision ceased funding to the 28 centres from July 1 but today’s decision by the Liberal-National Government will keep them open until December 31.

Childcare centres in East Perth, Coolbellup, Success and Wundowie, originally funded by the State to stay open until the end of September, would have a further extension to the end of the calendar year.

“I have responded quickly to ensure all affected centres remain open following this shock decision by the Federal Government to stop its funding.” Mrs. McSweeney said.

“We initially committed to meeting the full cost of funding until the end of September, and are now pleased to announce we will extend this commitment to December 31.” Mrs. McSweeney said. 

“This extension will allow the Department for Communities to further explore alternative sources of funding for these services and importantly support families with their childcare needs.”

Since the funding cut decision was announced by the Federal Government, the department has been working with federal counterparts to find alternative sources of funding from the Federal Government.

“These affected service providers and the families that rely on them deserve some surety their doors will remain open and for that reason the State Government will cover 100 per cent of their funding to the end of 2010.” the Minister said.

The State Government will be monitoring this situation closely and Mrs. McSweeney said she was determined to see that no West Australian families were disadvantaged as a result of the cessation of funding from the Federal Government.