Mike Elliott: Question on Early Childhood Spending

Extract from Hansard

Legislative Council
3 July 2001

Mike Elliott
Leader Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council

Parliament Index
2001 Autumn Sitting Index
Browse by Subject
Search all Democrats material
About the SA Parliament
Hansard on line

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Treasurer, representing the Minister for Education, a question about early childhood spending.

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I draw the minister's attention to an article appearing on page seven of the Age newspaper of 14 June this year. The article refers to an OECD report that finds that Australia is lagging behind most other OECD countries on public expenditure on pre-primary education. The report found that Australia spends just over .03 per cent of GDP on early childhood education, whilst Britain spends .42 per cent and the US spends .36 per cent. In its analysis of early childhood education in Australia, the report drew attention to the poorer working conditions experienced by staff in early childhood compared to other educational levels.

The report notes that, as a consequence, there is a high turnover in staff and difficulty in recruiting teachers. The report also notes the low numbers of Australian men in Australian pre-primary services. My questions to the minister are:

1. What is the South Australian expenditure on pre-primary education as a percentage of GSP?

2. What is the state government doing in South Australia to address the poorer working conditions that act as a disincentive to prospective pre-primary educators?

3. What initiatives has the state government in mind to encourage more men into pre-primary teaching given the positive impact of both male and female role models on a child's development?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I will refer the honourable member's question to the minister but, in doing so, I might say that I think that the honourable member will not be surprised to know that, in many areas, South Australia leads the nation in pre-primary education in terms of its commitment; and that the OECD figures to which the honourable member refers, I think, based on my recollection, are dragged down by the very poor performance, I think, in the ACT and one other state in terms of expenditure on pre-primary education. However, I will be delighted to refer the honourable member's question to the minister and bring back a reply and, if it is as I have suggested, I am sure that the Hon. Mr Elliott will loudly proclaim those figures from the rooftops and congratulate the government on its commitment in this area.