CHILD CARE – GOVERNMENT POLICY – AUSTRALIA

Commonwealth announces financial support for childcare centres

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Original article by Katina Curtis, Sumeyya Ilanbey
The Age – Page: Online : 24-Aug-21

The federal government has announced new support measures for childcare centres and after-school care operators. Childcare centres in areas where state premiers have directed parents to keep children at home or that have been under lockdown for more than four weeks will receive 25 per cent of pre-pandemic revenue, along with the fee subsidies they would usually get if all children were in attendance; after-school care operators will get 40 per cent of pre-pandemic revenue. The new measures have been welcomed by the Australian Childcare Alliance and the Outside School Hours Council of Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHILDCARE ALLIANCE INCORPORATED, OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Joyce’s backers query childcare funds boost

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 23-Jun-21

A combined meeting of Liberal and National MPs on 22 June is believed to have seen heated debate on the federal government’s proposed $1.7 billion funding boost for childcare services. National MPs George Christensen and Matt Canavan are said to have argued for bigger tax breaks and welfare payments for families, claiming this would encourage stay-at-home parenting; both Christensen and Joyce backed Barnaby Joyce in his leadership challenge against ousted leader Michael McCormack on 21 June. Christensen is said to have told the meeting that the package amounts to an "outsourcing" of parental responsibilities, while Liberal MPs Jane Hume and Katie Allen were among those to speak in favour of the funding boost.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Free childcare in $3bn family relief package

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 3-Apr-20

Nearly one million families will be eligible to receive free childcare under a coronavirus package announced by the federal government. The package is expected to cost over $3 billion and run for six months, with children of essential workers, vulnerable children and parents with existing childcare placements to be given priority under the scheme. Liz Christie, the director of a Goodstart long daycare centre in Brisbane’s CBD, says the government’s announcement is a huge relief. She says the centre’s numbers have fallen from more than 200 to around 60, and that many of the parents are essential workers.

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GOODSTART EARLY LEARNING LIMITED

Budget’s switch to spending

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-May-15

The Australian Government’s May 2015 Budget will replace all existing rebates for childcare services with one means-tested subsidy. However, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has indicated that the $A3.5bn childcare package is conditional on Senate support for welfare reforms that were in the 2014 Budget. Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has reiterated that the Opposition will not support the proposed changes to family benefits.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Top businesswomen back subsidised childcare

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Original article by Nassim Khadem
The Australian Financial Review – Page: : 23-Jul-14

The Productivity Commission has issued a review of the child care system, arguing against tax deductions and also wanting funds to be reallocated from the paid parental leave scheme pushed by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The tax deductions are however being called for by leading businesswomen, partly as this would allow for the hiring of nannies. Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley says the option is being considered, and it is also backed by the union movement. Sexual Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick however favours direct subsidies

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET|AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION|AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION|AUSTRALIA. SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION COMMISSION|AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY|AUSTRALIA. BOARD OF TAXATION|ACTU|THE ASSOCIATION OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED|BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA|AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE|UNITINGCARE AUSTRALIA|COALITION FOR WORKING WOMEN