2020-09-20
Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the latest Child Care Recovery Package, announced today, is yet another band-aid which does little to heal the wound. A long-term plan is needed for this essential service.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Announcing sporadic measures in dribs and drabs every few months is no way to support early learning workers and families. The government must come up with a long term plan that involves proper funding and abolishing childcare fees.
“Early childhood educators were cut off from JobKeeper before anyone else, and the government still refuses to provide a wage guarantee.
“Rather than suspending the Activity Test until April, it should be scrapped for good.
“Early childhood education is an essential service. Educators, families and centres have had a horror 2020. It’s time to provide long-term certainty for everyone,” she said.