2016-05-12
The Australian Greens have expressed concern for the thousands of Queensland families who will be disadvantaged by the government's decision to delay the implementation of childcare reforms by one year, as revealed in the May Budget.
While the government's package still has to be improved, it was set to save average families $30 a week and be introduced in 2017. With 188,950 Queensland families accessing childcare, the one year delay in rolling out the reforms represents a potential $287 million hit on family budgets.
"Families around Australia have been calling out for more support when it comes to childcare and early education," the Greens' early education and childcare spokesperson Senator Hanson-Young said.
"The government's decision to put childcare reform in the too-hard-basket will hit families hard.
"Mums and dads in Queensland stand to lose almost $300 million from this delay. That is unacceptable in these tough times.
"At the last election Tony Abbott said the Liberals would fix childcare, but now that's become just another broken promise."
Following previous cuts to childcare in the 2014 Budget, which saw $230 million of support taken from families nationwide, Greens Deputy Leader Senator Larissa Waters says parents in her home state need to be supported.
"This is the last thing Queensland families doing it tough need," Senator Waters said.
"Waiting another two years will mean families who believed the Coalition would help make childcare more affordable at the last election will miss out. Their kids will move on to school before they receive any increase in support from this disappointment of a government.
"Making parents with young children wait for some childcare cost relief while handing out $50 billion in corporate tax cuts makes the Liberal's priorities crystal clear.
"The Greens understand that all Queensland families should have access to affordable, flexible childcare and will stand up for high quality early education at every opportunity."
Media contact: Sen. Hanson-Young: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760 Sen. Waters: Monique Vandeleur 0419 626 725