COALITION ANNOUNCES INQUIRY INTO CHILDCARE
November 21, 2013
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed the establishment of a Productivity Commission Inquiry into childcare and early childhood learning.
Mr Chester said the inquiry would focus on how the current childcare system could be improved to make it more responsive to the needs of parents.
“Access to affordable and flexible childcare is a critical issue for families in regional areas,” Mr Chester said.
“This inquiry is long overdue and is the first public examination of its type since the 1990s.
“We are committed to working with parents and services to look at more flexible, affordable and accessible child care and learning choices for their children – the system needs to be responsive to what families need.
“Gippsland families deserve quality care and early learning at a price they can afford with services available when they need them.”
Mr Chester said the inquiry would report back on current and future needs; the different types of care available; the changing patterns of work in families; and how future government assistance should be paid.
Public hearings and submissions will be taken as part of the inquiry process with a report to be delivered by the end of October 2014.
The terms of reference for the Productivity Commission can be found at www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/childcare