The Nationals in government will deliver high-quality and safe preschool education for children and their families across NSW by winding back Labor’s cruel cuts and restoring funding certainty.
The Minns Labor Government has gutted the Start Strong framework from December 31, 2026, and replaced it with separate opaque and insufficient funding arrangements for community preschools and long day care services.
Families and educators right across NSW have been condemning Labor’s changes, saying they undermine quality and safety for preschool aged children and threaten the viability of early education across NSW.
NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said families and early education providers across regional NSW would feel these impacts hardest.
“Families in our regions rely heavily on community preschools and they are telling us that children will miss out if Labor’s cuts proceed,” Mr Singh said.
“When Labor forces preschools to close in regional NSW, there are no alternative services. Kids miss out, parents can’t get to work, and a vital community hub is lost forever.”
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane supports fair pay for educators and providing quality preschool education for families.
“Stakeholders have said cutting the program is bad policy and will impact the quality and viability of preschool education for 170,000 children across NSW. Once again Labor is ignoring that important feedback.
“Preschool is where children learn to make friends, build confidence and get ready for their first day of school; that early start is worth investing in.”
Shadow Minister for Early Education Felicity Wilson said families, educators and providers across the state had made their concerns clear and been ignored by this Labor Government.
“We’ve heard from parents, educators, and providers in communities right across NSW, and the message is consistent: they are worried about what Labor’s changes mean for quality, affordability and choice,” Ms Wilson said.
“With falling education standards demonstrated through NAPLAN, and increasing behavioural issues in our classrooms, this is the worst time to gouge investment in preparedness for school entry.”
