Early Education Ministers from key states have come together, calling on Tony Abbott to commit to funding 15 hours of kindergarten.
Meeting at the Education Council, state and territory Ministers said Australian children should receive 15 hours of quality, affordable kindergarten per week in the vital year before school.
The Productivity Commission found that 15 hours of kindergarten is essential to boosting preschool participation, supporting children's development and improving school readiness, and recommended the Federal Government continue to provide funding.
The Early Education Ministers from Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, emphasised the urgent need for the Federal Government to commit to ongoing funding to give kindergartens certainty as they plan for 2016.
Ministers noted that the quality of, and access to, early childhood education had significantly improved since 15 hours of kindergarten became the national standard and will improve Australia's productivity and global competitiveness.
The Tasmanian Minister for Education & Training Jeremy Rockliff said:
"Although I was in Parliament today and could not attend the Education Council, I have raised a number of times with the Federal Minister the importance of the Australian Government continuing its support so that children have access to 15 hours of early childhood education each week.
"We know the importance of early childhood education in setting children up for lifelong learning, and in Tasmania we are focused on improving educational outcomes for every child. Research shows that participating in quality early childhood education programs gives children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, a head start.
"A commitment from the Australian Government on 15 hours of kindergarten is urgently needed in order to give kinders certainty as they plan for next year."
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