Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman

4 April 2007

Labour changes tune (again) on ECE

"Steve Maharey appears to have changed his tune again on whether parents who refuse to pay an optional charge can be refused entry to an early childhood education centre," says National's Associate Education spokeswoman Paula Bennett.

"Labour just can't make this one work. Slippery Steve Maharey continues to shuffle his feet as he comes to the realisation that Labour's promises at the last election cannot be delivered."

Miss Bennett is referring to answers in Parliament today where Mr Maharey said ECE centres can choose for themselves whether they take the children of parents who refuse to pay optional charges.

"But that's in stark contrast to earlier written questions where an emphatic Steve Maharey said 'ECE services can not refuse enrolment or access to free ECE for the reason that a parent refuse to pay a donation or optional charge'.

"It's little wonder that centres and parents are now totally confused about Labour's fraudulent promise of 20 hours free early childhood education for all three and four year olds.

"What certainty can the sector or parents have, when the Minister's story is changing every week?"

ENDS

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