PM Transcripts

CVA STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER
CA CHELSEA MEETING, MELBOURNE, 14 MAY 1974
The Opposition have made it brutally clear that they
would do nothing of value for the care and education of young
children. C-hild care, would suffer under a Country Party-Liberal
Government fo-r thKe-same reason that education would suffer.
Mr Snedden would prefer to spend the money on wealthy sectional
interests. The Liberal record on child care demonstrates their
neglect and indifference. In their last three years in office
they spent $ 5 million a year on pre-school education and child
care. They promised to spend an additional $ 5 million in 1972
but did not do so. ~ w.~=~ tsixmonths teWhit lam Governi..::
ment has spent $ 18 million. It has done this -and much more
by cutting back $ 480 million in unnecessary spending on tax
lurks, concessions and subsidies for wealthy mining corporations,
business interests, Collins Street farmers and category-A
schools. Mr Snedden, under Country Party pressure, would restore
these payments. That is why he has no real interest in child
care. That is why his proposals are hollow and irrelevant.
Australians all Australian governments currently
spend $ 2,000 million a year in educating, sheltering and caring
for children under 12. In this context, the Snedden offer of
million for children under six looks pretty shabby.
That is the reality behind the official Liberal
policy statement that there would be " no new expenditure until
economic circumstances permit", that " current pre-school programs"
would continue. They promise merely to continue something that
everyone regards as inadequate.
There can be no argument about the size and reality
of the challenge. The best official estimates at the government's
disposal indicate a program costing $ 130 million in a full year.
We are committed to such a program.