Michael Sukkar MP

Budget 2015: Child care visit gives parents a say on upcoming families’ package

Michael Sukkar, Federal Member for Deakin, together with the Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Scott Morrison, today met with local parents and service providers at Goodstart Early Learning in Croydon South to get input into the development of the Commonwealth Government’s upcoming families’ package.

Minister Morrison said the government’s upcoming families’ package will provide a new set of support arrangements for child care.

“The Productivity Commission report into child care found that many families see the current system as difficult to navigate and outdated. There’s a growing consensus that child care assistance has to be simpler and better targeted, to help families stay in work and get back into work when they have children,” Minister Morrison said.

“The Abbott Government has already announced we will create a pilot programme to families who struggle to access affordable child care services when working, studying or looking for work by establishing a $246 million two year pilot programme to extend subsidy support to home care services provided by nannies.

“Key workers such as nurses, police officers, ambulance officers and firefighters, as well as other shift workers, are too often unable to access child care and take advantage of government support because of the nature and hours of their work.

“The Coalition Government is committed to developing a child care system that is more accessible, flexible and affordable and better meets the needs of modern families to be in work.”

Michael said that reducing the financial burden on families was a top priority for the Coalition Government, and welcomed Minister Morrison’s visit to Deakin to directly talk and engage with local parents and families about their childcare needs.

“Childcare costs have an obvious impact on the family budget. And keeping downward pressure on the cost of living for families is important to this government.

“As the local member, it’s important to make sure I get the right advice from local parents about the appropriate measure of government support we give to families, especially when it comes to childcare.

“I commend Minister Morrison for his hard work and commitment to the many mums and dads in Deakin who struggle to provide the best care and education for their children, and I believe the upcoming families’ package will provide the recognition and support those parents deserve.”