Felicity Wilson MP
Shadow Minister for Early Education
The Minns Labor Government’s announcement today of $1.8 billion to “reshape the early learning sector” is nothing more than a rebadging of existing landmark funding committed to deliver the transformative vision of the former Liberal and National Government.
Shadow Minister for Early Education Felicity Wilson said today’s announcement demonstrates that Labor is once more happy to claim credit for the former government’s record funding and reform while failing to deliver on its full promise, or craft a new vision for early education in NSW.
“Today’s announcement is not the bold new vision the Minns Labor Government would have people believe. It is a repackaging of the $15.9 billion Early Years Commitment, an historic investment and transformative vision originated under the former Liberals and Nationals Government,” Ms Wilson said.
“This Labor budget was a missed opportunity to make New South Wales early education more affordable and accessible for families, and days later the Minns Labor Government is treating the sector like an afterthought.”
"What’s worse is that the Minns Labor Government have been dragged kicking and screaming to fulfil their obligations to fund community preschools – four months after the Fair Work Commission told them to get it done – leaving educators and families in limbo for two years.”
“Families shouldn’t have been strung along, facing the prospect of higher fees for their kids or services closing down, and the lack of detail in today’s announcement doesn’t alleviate that stress.”
“While gutting community preschools – which educate 33,986 children – Labor talks a big game about their 100 new public preschool pledge, but failing to deliver. In three years, only two public preschools have opened, their 2025-26 Budget said four would open in this year and only one was delivered.”
“Labor doesn’t even have a pass mark on delivering new early education, with a 2% result in three years, and yet somehow they expect families to trust they’ll deliver 98 new public preschools in the next eight months.”
Contrast this with the former Liberal and Nationals Government who in 2022-23 committed and funded a plan to deliver universal kindergarten by 2030, creating 100,000 places for children across NSW.
By comparison, Labor's commitment to 100 public preschools and 25 new public early learning centres would create roughly 10,000 additional places - if they are delivered - 90,000 fewer places for children by 2030 than under a Liberal and National Government.
“Labor’s big talk on early learning has seen two public preschools - approximately 120 kids - benefit in three years, well below the 10,000 promised.”
“The Liberals and Nationals have a strong record of delivery and are the only option for a trusted Government to deliver on early education for children and families across NSW,” Ms Wilson said.