2016-04-04
The government's childcare package will result in hundreds of thousands of families being worse off and will need to be amended, the Australian Greens have said.
"This package doesn't do what the government said it would and will, instead, leave hundreds of thousands of families worse off," the Greens' early childhood education and care spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said.
"Far from helping new mothers re-enter the workforce, the government's strict activity test will make it harder for casual workers and those with irregular hours to access care.
"I find it hard to see how parents are supposed to secure employment, or more hours of work, without the guarantee of a child care place or help in paying their fees.
"Vulnerable children, especially those form Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and middle-income families are being left behind by this package."
Modelling undertaken by the Australian National University has shown that 330,000 families will be worse off under the government's proposed policy and more than 127,000 families will be hit by the tougher activity test.
"The Greens want to see all families given access to affordable, flexible, high quality care," Senator Hanson-Young said.
"The government's package has major flaws, but the Greens are willing to sit down in good faith and work to ensure that all Australian children are given access to a quality early education."
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