CHILD CARE & FEDERAL BUDGET 10 MAY 04

[Clark, Allen (M. Organ, MP)]

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CHILD CARE IN CRISIS

"Creating 40,000 after school childcare places in tomorrow's budget will
not address the myriad of serious issues facing the child care sector,"
Cunningham MP Michael Organ said today.

"I have seen first-hand the issues facing the child care sector. I
support the call by unions, welfare groups and community based centres
for a national rescue plan," Mr Organ said.

"I am impressed by the quality and commitment of early childhood
educators I have met, but, like their primary and secondary school
colleagues, they are seriously undervalued."

"Most workers in child care receive $12.00 per hour for physically,
emotionally and mentally tiring work - and that is a major issue which
needs to be addressed."

"To be paying those who educate tomorrow's generation $12 an hour is
ridiculous. There is a massive flight of qualified workers from the
sector due to inadequate pay and a lack of professional recognition."

"The Government has deliberately encouraged the sector to become
increasingly privatised by failing to adequately support community based
centres, who put all their profits back into the children, rather than
into someone else's pocket."

"On top of this they now want to support 'part time mums' instead of
facing the reality that in many families, parents must work full time. I
commend their efforts to create more places but this is a limited,
band-aid approach."

"More long-day places are desperately required in my electorate, with
massive waiting lists, particularly for the 0-2 age group. There are
hundreds of families in my electorate who simply can't get access to
child care places, and this trend is reflected across Australia," Mr
Organ said.


More from: Michael Organ MP 02 6277 4366, 0439 442 550
Allen Clark (Media Adviser) 0439 464 439
www.michaelorgan.org.au



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