Local Federal Labor MPs today called on the Morrison Government to invest in childcare in order to make early education and care more affordable for thousands of families across the region.

The Budget provided the Morrison Government with an opportunity to invest in early education and care.

However, once again, the Morrison Government failed to act.

Under the Coalition Government child care fees in Australia have risen to some of the highest in the world, and across the country more than 100,000 families have been locked out of childcare because they simply can’t afford it.

When it comes to early education and care, parents across the region were hoping for more, and have been left disappointed.

The Morrison Government has done absolutely nothing to address the rising cost of childcare for families.

More than 13,000 families and 211 childcare services across the Illawarra and Southern Highlands have been left behind.

On Thursday Labor Leader Anthony Albanese announced that a Labor Government would introduce the Working Family Childcare Boost to cut childcare fees and put more money into the pockets of working families.

Under this plan Labor will scrap the $10,560 childcare subsidy cap, lift the maximum childcare subsidy rate to 90%, increase childcare subsidy rates and taper them for every family earning less than $530,000.

Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones said “The COVID-19 pandemic showed just how important affordable and accessible childcare is for families, children and our economy.

“Labor Leader Anthony Albanese announced in his Budget-in-Reply on Thursday that this is what Labor would do if we were in Government right now. If you fix one of the biggest obstacles to women’s participation in the workforce. It’s good for the economy and good for families.” 

Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird said, “The Government must act urgently to ensure that high quality early education is affordable, and accessible for every child in our community”.

The Morrison Government has again failed Australians and missed an opportunity to invest in early education and care.

Fixing the childcare problem is essential.

Unfortunately for thousands of families the Morrison Government has failed to address the issue and continues the trend of getting every big call wrong.