‘Cheaper Child Care’ delivers higher fees and no new places

Angie Bell MP
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education
Shadow Minster for Youth

MEDIA RELEASE
‘Cheaper Child Care’ delivers higher fees and no new places

30 June 2023

During the last election, Labor promised Australian families would be better off under them, but their ‘cheaper child care’ policy has only delivered higher fees, longer waitlists, no access and further pressure on the sector.

From tomorrow, Australian families were expecting higher child care subsidies to help tackle cost of living pressures – but all we’ve heard is that providers are increasing their fees, leaving many parents further out of pocket than they were before.

Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Angie Bell, said the Albanese Government has left families in a worse position than 12 months ago.

“Labor promised to deliver Australian families lower out of pocket costs, and yet under them, early childhood education fees have already increased by 6.5 per cent in just six months,” Ms Bell said.

“The almost immediate loss of the subsidy is putting more pressure on many families who are already struggling through this cost of living crisis, and the Albanese Government has no plan to help them.

“We warned this Government time and time again that this would happen, and they waved us off, saying fees wouldn’t rise and families would get much needed relief. It’s clear they have no idea what they’re doing.”

Many families have been scrambling to find a place for their children or access extra days so they can return to work or study. Instead of accessing those places, they’ve found themselves stuck on waitlists alongside hundreds of other families.

“We continue to hear stories from families, particularly in regional and rural Australia who currently have no access to early childhood education, and are unable to return to work,” Ms Bell said.

“The regions are the backbone of this country, and the Albanese Government has left them behind. Without further investment in the sector, particularly in the regions, many children will be unable to access the education and care they need.”

With no plan to increase access, no plan to address rising fees and no plan to address workforce concerns – it’s clear this Labor Government has no idea what they’re doing.

The last time Labor was in Government early childhood education fees skyrocketed by 53 per cent in just six years.

With out of pocket costs rising again, Australian families deserve to know why they’re always worse off under Labor.

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