Time to bring on childcare legislation
Australia’s largest childcare and early learning provider, Goodstart Early Learning, has called on the Federal Government to quickly bring its Jobs for Families Childcare Package to Parliament for debate to ensure families have access to affordable care.
This follows the tabling of the Senate Committee’s report into the legislation today.
Goodstart, a not-for-profit provider that exists purely to improve the lives of families and children, has also called on the Senate to make minor amendments to the Government’s $3.1 billion childcare package to ensure it supports working parents and disadvantaged children.
Goodstart Early Learning CEO Julia Davison said the $3.1 billion package was a significant win for working families as it would make childcare more affordable.
“Families have been waiting patiently for the Government to deliver on its pre-election promise to make childcare more accessible and more affordable,” she said. “Families are struggling with cost of living pressures now and they need certainty that their child care costs will be reduced next year as promised.
“Australian families shouldn’t have to wait for another election for the help they need. Bring it on.”
Ms Davison said the Senate Inquiry had highlighted that, while most working families were significant winners under the reforms, too many children from low income families would see their access to early learning cut.
“The legislation will need minor amendments to improve access to early learning for children from low income families,” she said. “Research shows these children benefit most from access to quality early learning.
“Ensuring all children have access to quality early learning is in Australia’s best long-term interests because investing in early learning now will increase our future productivity and make Australia’s economy more competitive in the future.
“We call on all parties in the Parliament to work together to ensure that this legislation is debated and amended to deliver a great outcome for Australian children and families. With some minor changes this package, already good for working families, could be great for all Australian children and our nation’s future.”