[Greens-Media] Hanson-Young: Weeks of unanswered questions not good enough for ABC parents, workers

[Clark, Gemma (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Weeks of unanswered questions not good enough for ABC parents, workers

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says there are too many questions
about the ABC Learning childcare crisis that have gone unanswered for
weeks by Education Minister Julia Gillard.

ABC Learning appointed administrators on Thursday November 6. The
Federal Government's $22 million prop-up to keep ABC Learning centres
open expires on December 31 this year. 386 ABC Learning centres have
been marked as being 'under operational review', with an uncertain
future in 2009.

"Parents and workers have waited far too long for answers from the
Government on the fate of their centres," said Senator Hanson-Young.

"I first asked the Education Department on Monday October 22 during a
Senate Estimates hearing as to whether the Government had a contingency
plan in the event that ABC Learning collapsed, which subsequently
happened two weeks later.

"Despite being assured that the Government had something in the works,
parents, workers and parliamentarians alike are none the wiser as to
what the plan entails."

Senator Hanson-Young pointed to a number of questions that have remained
unanswered by Education Minister Gillard, including:

*	When will parents with children at the 386 ABC Learning centres
marked as 'under operational review' know whether their centre will
remain open in 2009?
*	What does the future hold for the staff at these 386 ABC
Learning centres?
*	What is the Government's "contingency plan" for the ABC Learning
centres that will close in 2009?
*	What is the Government's longer term plan for ensuring all
existing ABC Learning centres are run under a more sustainable model,
putting the care of children before profits?
*	What is the Government doing to ensure that a crisis like this
does not occur again?
*	When will the Education Minister hold an emergency summit on the
childcare sector in Australia, as requested by stakeholders and
supported by the Senate?

Senator Hanson-Young said that parents and workers deserved answers now.

"Workers are concerned for their livelihoods, unsure if they will have a
job to return to after the Christmas break. Parents are wondering if
they will be able to drop their kids off at their centre so they too can
return to work in January.

"No more deferring - Minister Gillard must front up with her much-touted
plan without further delay."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760