[Greens-Media] Childcare needs strategic approach

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey MEDIA RELEASE
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23 May 2006


Childcare needs strategic approach

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has again called for the ACT Government to develop a childcare strategy in the ACT following the latest revelations of the inadequate provision of high quality and affordable childcare throughout Canberra.

"The ACT Government dodged the issue in the Assembly recently, refusing to do anything and calling on the Federal Government to do more instead" Dr Foskey said today.

"It is the ACT Government's job to ensure a distribution of facilities right around Canberra."

"Childcare is not in short supply everywhere in Canberra.  It seems there is excess capacity in some parts of Tuggeranong but not enough in central Canberra. The ACT Government would assist parents by mapping out the level of demand and the distribution of childcare places in the Territory."

 "On top of that, there are a number of schools with extra space that would gain a new lease of life if a childcare centre moved in."

"The quality of the childcare is the other key issue." 

"As the Australia Institute has shown, childcare staff rank the quality of corporate providers below that of community based care; and they should know.  

"If the ACT Government doesn't work with the community and existing providers, the extra demand will be filled by corporate childcare businesses." 

"It would be better for our community, and for the ACT's economic future, if the ACT Government was to support the development of community based centres and local private providers" Dr Foskey said.

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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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