Any means testing for parents to get funding for early childhood education would be an election promise broken, Labour leader Phil Goff says.
Education Minister Anne Tolley today would not confirm reports, that have been swirling for weeks, that the budget would include changes to early childhood education (ECE) that could see some parents paying more.
"You'll have to wait until Thursday, that's why we have a budget," she told reporters.
Asked if she would guarantee costs would not go up, she refused.
Last month NZPA reported that while the Government promised it would continue providing 20 hours ECE, ministers were not ruling out changes that could mean parents paying more.
At the time Mrs Tolley said the cost of providing the subsidy had nearly trebled over the last five years and was projected to continue rising at about $200 million a year.
Mrs Tolley said there was unequal uptake, with poor families losing out.
Asked whether she intended means testing parents, she said "wait for the budget".
Prime Minister John Key said "we're looking at the scheme" and also told reporters they would have to wait for the budget to find out more.
Mr Goff said Mr Key promised before the election to retain the level of subsidies so any means testing would also be a breach.
He said tax cuts would not make up for increases in child care costs especially if GST increased as signalled.
