June 1, 2011
Families in several Gippsland communities could be left without childcare services unless the Federal Government reverses its decision to abandon occasional childcare funding.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has told Federal Parliament that small rural communities had been disadvantaged by the Gillard Labor Government’s budget cuts.
The occasional childcare funding was used in Gippsland at towns such as Heyfield, Gormandale, Paynesville and Swifts Creek to provide childcare services through the local Neighbourhood Houses and community centres.
However, Mr Chester said Neighbourhood Houses would be unable to offer childcare services from January 1, 2012, unless the Federal Government reinstated occasional childcare funding which was cut in the 2010/11 Budget.
After the cut was made in the Federal Budget the Victorian Government stepped in and agreed to fully fund the program until December 31, 2011. Prior to this arrangement the Federal Government had provided 70 per cent of the program and the State Government funded 30 per cent.
“Up until last year’s Budget the Federal Government had funding in place to help deliver childcare services to communities where there are no other alternatives,” Mr Chester said.
“But to save a miserable $12.6 million over four years, the government withdrew the funding.
“Now it provides nothing and that is exactly the level of service families in some communities in Gippsland are likely to face within a few months.
“In some small regional and rural communities there will never be enough people to make a childcare centre profitable for a private operator.
“Childcare services are critical to allow families to achieve a second income where required, and are also a key tool in attracting people into the local workforce.
“The Federal Government should adopt the Coalition’s policy position and reinstate occasional care funding to provide a vital service in regional areas.”
Neighbourhood Houses across Gippsland are now petitioning the Federal Government to have the funding reinstated.
“Highlighting the importance of this issue is the first step in forcing the Federal Government to reinstate the funding,” Mr Chester said.
“I encourage all Gippslanders to support the efforts of local Neighbourhood Houses, sign the petition and send a message to Canberra about how important childcare is to regional communities.”
Copies of the petition are available at Mr Chester’s Sale and Traralgon offices as well as online at www.darrenchester.com