Wide Bay families to benefit from Coalition’s real action on child care
28th July, 2010
The Coalition will spend an extra $89m to make child care more affordable for local families, Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today.“We know that many parents have to leave their jobs or reduce their working hours because child care costs are too high,” Mr Truss said.
“Our initiative will help parents to maintain their income and their employment, providing them with greater financial and job security.”
In this year’s Budget, the Rudd-Gillard Government removed indexation of the Child Care Rebate which increased child care costs by around $300 per child per year. The Coalition will reinstate the rebate, which covers 50 per cent of out-of-pocket child care expenses up to an annual cap of $7,500.
The Coalition will also have the rebate paid weekly and directly to child care providers. It is currently paid quarterly and in arrears to the family. The change would improve families’ cash flow and improve efficiency for the child care sector.
The $12.6m of Occasional Care funding cut by the Rudd-Gillard Government will also be reinstated, giving parents greater flexibility and part-time access to child care in emergencies or other times of unforeseen need.
“The Coalition offers real action on child care, putting up to $300 per child per year back into the family budget.
“In contrast, all Labor can deliver is another broken promise. Julia Gillard promised to build 260 child care and early learning centres to end the ‘double drop-off’. But after nearly three years in office, Labor junked the promise and will only deliver 38.
“The Coalition delivers. Labor just lets you down.”
