The Labor spokesperson for Barwon has expressed concern about the rising cost of early education and how it will impact the Bogan Bush Mobile.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Concerns are rife that the cost of the Bogan Bush Mobile (BBM) will rise five times for parents should their federal government funding change.
NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Barwon Daniel Mookhey said the state government should be stepping in to help with early educational services in regional NSW.
“As someone who recently welcomed my first children to the family, I’ve seen firsthand how rising prices hurt,” he said.
“Families and communities want the best for their children and they expect the government to be on their side.”
Mr Mookhey said early education minister Sarah Mitchell dodged his question about the BBM.
According to the Labor spokesperson, he asked whether Ms Mitchell would step in and save the BBM service, which provides early education services to rural and remote families in the Bogan region.
“The Minister dodged the question and failed to refer to the Bogan Shire or the Bogan Bush Mobile Service even once,” Mr Mookhey said.
“When asked again on what specific steps she would take, the Manager of Government Business tried to shut down debate and rule the question out of order.”
Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries, said Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton is working so services like the BBM won’t be left behind.
“Daniel wants to stir up trouble, but the reality is that Mark Coulton is working closely with the Minister’s office to ensure mobile units are adequately addressed and services like the Bogan Bush Mobile Service won’t be left behind,” Mr Humphries said.
“The Federal Government has said that mobile services can’t be funded on a ‘one size fits all approach’.
“Services will be able to seek supplementary, tailored funding which will be flexible and will particularly help services that need additional financial support to maintain operations.”
Mr Mookhey has expressed concerns the State government has no plan for the affected Bogan Shire.
“Instead of standing with Bogan Shire families, the Liberal-National government, has no plan, no solution and no answer to the rising childhood costs,” he said.