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Community Preschools

Published on: May 2026

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-164173

Community Preschools

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (11:50:23):

My question is directed to the Minister for Education and Early Learning. Today community preschool educators and teachers have gathered outside to protest against the Government's refusal to boost community preschool funding. Without action, higher fees or loss of services will reduce access and limit parental choice, hitting New South Wales families and communities hard. When will the Minister increase funding for community preschools?

Ms PRUE CAR (LondonderryDeputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning, and Minister for Western Sydney) (11:50:59):

— I thank the shadow Minister for the question and for her new-found interest in the wages of workers. In this particular case the Opposition cares about the wages of workers, but it does not care when it comes to any other workers, for some reason. I have said this in the House, at budget estimates and at many other times: Off the back of the Fair Work Commission decision into the matter of pay for community preschool educators and teachers, we are looking at the funding of community preschools. I have said that time and again. In fact, we are going through the process for the New South Wales budget at the moment.

We know that community preschools provide an extremely valuable service for thousands of parents. We are also the party that broke the wages cap in New South Wales. We are the Government that believes in paying workers a fair wage. In fact, the case of community preschool educators and teachers is one that we agree with. We believe they should be paid more. Before the inevitable rupture on the other side of the Chamber, I make this point clear so that everyone goes into this with the right information: Community preschools are not run by the New South Wales Government.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

They are funded by it.

Ms PRUE CAR:

They are partly funded, and I have just said that we are looking at their funding. I am not quite sure where the Opposition thinks the gotcha is in this question. We 100 per cent agree with community preschool educators that they deserve a pay rise.

Mr Justin Clancy:

You're just not giving it to them.

Ms PRUE CAR:

No, I have just said that we are looking at the funding arrangements of community preschools. They are majority funded by the State Government through Start Strong. Yes, the Opposition has got that right. That is one area of policy where, for some reason, the Opposition understands some of it. We agree with the community preschool educators. We are looking at the funding of community preschools. I have said this once, twice, 20 times and I will say it again: We are looking at the funding. They deserve a pay rise. Do members know that a lot of community preschools have the ability to give this pay rise right now?

Ms Felicity Wilson:

Point of order—

The SPEAKER:

Members will come to order. The member for North Shore rises on a point of order. The Minister will resume her seat.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

The Minister is misleading the House. The Fair Work Commission has said that preschools cannot afford it and the Government has to pay.

The SPEAKER:

There is no point of order. The member for North Shore will resume her seat.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

I seek more information.

The SPEAKER:

An extension of time is not granted.