Moroney Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Moroney Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:653;Page:2294] 
12.  
SUE MORONEY (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: What level of priority if any does she give to quality early childhood education? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Quality early childhood education and care is a high priority for the Government. This includes doing more to ensure participation in quality early childhood services by those who are not currently participating. 
Sue Moroney 
: Why then has the New Zealand Playcentre Federation accused the Government of backtracking on its election promise of funding 20 hours’ early childhood education for playcentres? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: The Government will be honouring its commitment to extend the 20 hours programme to playcentres and kohanga reo because unlike the previous Government we recognise the quality input from parents and we recognise that these institutions provide valuable early childhood education and care to our youngest New Zealanders. I say to the member that the funding formulas are very complex and the ministry will be working with the sector to design these formulas for these services so that the Government can deliver on its commitment. 
Sue Moroney 
: If early childhood education is such a high priority for the Government why is it taking so long for the Minister to mandate her ministry to enter into collective employment negotiations for kindergarten teachers whose employment agreement has already expired on 28 February and also for school support staff whose agreement expired on 1 March? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I expect to take bargaining parameters to Cabinet shortly and bargaining will begin as soon as possible after that. I say to the member that it is all very well for the Labour Party to shed crocodile tears over the start of these negotiations when on the previous occasion the Labour Government did not present an offer to the New Zealand Educational Institute until 7 weeks after the expiry of the collective agreement and the time before that it was 5 weeks. 
Sue Moroney 
: I seek leave to table a letter from the Ministry of Education dated 20 March in which the author says that they are ready to start bargaining but that they have not had a mandate from the Minister yet. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table the letter. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Sue Moroney 
: I seek leave to table a document entitled “Teachers’ union considers legal action over pay talks”. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: What is the document? 
Sue Moroney 
: It is an article from the Christchurch  
Press 
 dated 1 April— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: It is a press release. I appeal to the honourable member that the Standing Orders Committee has asked that members do not seek to table local press releases. It would be different if it was an overseas newspaper but I seriously wonder at the wisdom of wasting the time of the House on a local press statement. However the member is entitled to do so if she insists. 
Sue Moroney 
: I would like to seek the leave of the House. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that press statement. Is there any objection? There is objection.