FAMILIES could be $1333 a year better off per child under the Coalition’s new childcare reforms.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
When Assistant Minister for Children and Families David Gillespie and New England MP Barnaby Joyce launched the new childcare system at Armidale and District Family Day Care on Monday, Mr Gillespie said the new system would make childcare services more easily accessible for Australian families.
“We want Australian children getting the early education, love and care that they deserve but allow people who want to work get back into work,” he said.
“We are changing the paradigm.”
MORE READING:
The assistant minister disagreed the system disadvantaged stay at home parents because it was “their personal choice”.
“They aren’t claiming childcare benefit. I can’t see how its disadvantaging them – that’s a personal choice they are making,” Mr Gillespie said.
Under the changes, the annual limit on government support will be eliminated for most families.
The lowest-income families will be paid the most with 85 per cent of their childcare costs covered, but families who earn a combined income above $350,000 are not eligible at all.
“We have designed the package to have a childcare safety net. The increased funds going into the broader childcare subsidy is $2.5 billion,” he said
“There’s also an extra $1.2 billion around the country to support the safety net ... for children who are at risk, families that have various challenges or social problems.
“There is a child care safety net that allows them to access at least 12 hours a week.”
Mr Joyce said more than 4000 families in the New England will benefit under the Coalition’s new childcare system.
“This provides a service so people have the capacity to get back into work, be part of the workforce and confident that their child are well looked after which is an area I am starting to learn a bit more about again,” Mr Joyce said.
“This system works on the premise if you are not earning as much as both, you get more money. It’s about access for more people.”
Business manager Pat Marson said the small community-based service welcomed the federal government’s new childcare system.
“We welcome the transparency it will provide and that families will be having their fees paid to their service as a one-off [fee] without the confusion of previous systems,” she said.
“We look forward to providing to the needs of families in the community for a long time to come under this subsidy.”
Families must register to access the new reforms, and complete the activity test on the myGov website.
