[Greens-Media] Hanson-Young: Gillard should not give up on childcare

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

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Gillard should not give up on childcare

The Greens say that Education Minister Julia Gillard has given up too
easily by allowing 55 ABC Learning centres to close and leaving a
further 241 with an uncertain future beyond March 2009.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the Federal Government has
delivered a cruel Christmas announcement for more than 100 childcare
workers, while the assurances of alternative placement for children in
nearby centres comes with riders.

"The Government is giving up too easily on the 55 centres that have been
earmarked for closure - and more should be done to protect workers' jobs
and the parents and children affected," she said.

"Not-for-profit childcare providers should be given the opportunity to
acquire these centres through a Capital Grants Fund, as proposed by the
Greens.

"This would allow organisations, who possess the human resources and
know-how, to move into ABC Learning's purpose-built facilities and
provide a continuity of care for the childcare in those 55 centres.

"The childcare sector is already in a state of turmoil - centres must
not be closed needlessly."

Senator Hanson-Young said there should be a stronger guarantee for
placements for families left without a childcare centre.

"The receivers have said a placement is guaranteed if one is available,
and if it is within 2.5 kilometres - that seems like less than a
watertight guarantee and needs further explanation.

"What will this relocation do to carer-to-child ratios in the nearby
centres?"

The Greens have launched a Senate Inquiry into the regulation of
childcare in Australia and have called on the Government to use the
Inquiry as an opportunity to fix the sector.

"While the receiver has expressed that he has 'neither the time nor the
inclination' to investigate why ABC Learning collapsed, it is the
responsibility of Government to look at why ensure that this situation
never happens again.

"The early education and care of our youngest children should never
again be jeopardised by corporate greed and the whim of the market."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760