2025-04-06
As families struggle with the cost-of-living crisis and the for-profit childcare sector is hit with scandal, the Greens say they will make free childhood education and care a priority during the coming minority parliament, elevating the prospects of significant reform after an election likely to place the Greens in balance of power.
The Greens will announce the priority today in the Greens target seat of Macnamara, alongside the party’s full plan for free, universal, high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) – ensuring all children get the education they deserve, and parents can work, build a career, or simply breathe easier.
In a move to treat early education like public schools, the Greens plan will provide every child 50 hours of free ECEC a week, and extend universal access to preschool to 30 hours a week for all four-and three-year-olds.
The Greens’ plan also contains long-called for reform to funding methods and to the scandal-plagued for-profit childcare sector, with government directly funding ECEC centres, moving away from the failed fee subsidy model and with government taking over for-profit operators that choose to leave the system.
Building upon the party’s success in forcing Labor to legislate the removal of the punitive activity test for three days, the plan would cost $29bn over the forward estimates. Unacceptably, nearly one in four Australians live in a childcare desert – where there are more than three children per available place in childcare.
The Greens’ plan includes a dedicated childcare desert fund and funding to increase capacity in not-for-profit and public providers to reduce waitlists. There is also additional support for First Nations community-controlled services, increased inclusive care funding and investment into the national workforce strategy to tackle educator shortages.
To ensure that all providers provide a high quality and reliable service, the Greens plan includes support for a new independent commission to monitor the quality and availability of childcare centres and to ensure any private operator exiting the system is brought under public operation so that there are no availability gaps.
The Greens have previously announced two priorities for balance of power negotiations - dental into Medicare and ending native forest logging - and have said further announcements around housing and climate will be made during the campaign.
Quotes attributable to Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:
“In a wealthy country like ours everyone should be able to afford childcare, but too many families are struggling with the cost,” Mr Bandt said.
”What Labor’s doing isn’t working, and Peter Dutton would take childcare backwards.
“Experts predict we’re heading for a minority Parliament, where the Greens will keep Dutton out and push Labor to treat early childhood education like school, where it should be free to go with quality guaranteed.
“Greens pressure has already forced Labor to scrap the activity test for 3 days a week, and in the next Parliament we’ll keep Dutton out and make further reform a priority.
Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson for early childhood education and care, Senator Steph Hodgins-May:
“Australia's early education system is in crisis. It’s failing to keep our children safe, while families are being hit with skyrocketing fees and endless waitlists.
“The current Child Care Subsidy model is failing families; it doesn’t guarantee access to childcare, it doesn’t protect them against fee hikes, and it has created a playground for cowboys operators to profit off our children.
“The Greens have a comprehensive plan to fix it. We will provide free, universal, high-quality early education for every child. It’s a bold, long-term reform to ensure no child is left behind, regardless of their postcode or parents’ income.”
“We’ll address childcare deserts, reduce waitlists, and invest in the workforce to ensure that every family can access affordable, quality care. Free early education gives children the very best start in life, while also supporting parents to re-enter the workforce sooner.”
“Only by voting for the Greens can we drive universal early education. We can fix this system and provide much-needed cost of living relief for families.”
Quotes attributable to Greens candidate for Macnamara, Sonya Semmens:
“As a mum, I know how important it is to every parent to ensure their kids have the best possible start in life, but for many families, it’s simply not affordable or possible.
“We live in a wealthy country - and I don’t think it’s fair that 1 in 3 corporations pay no tax, while the government refuses to fund high quality early childhood education and care.
“Voters in Macnamara are powerful. If just 300 people in Macnamara change their vote, they could get kids across the country free access to free early childhood education, making sure everyone gets the best start in life.”