[Greens-Media] Greens to move for Senate Inquiry into childcare

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

Monday 24 November 2008

Greens to move for Senate Inquiry into childcare

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has indicated that the Greens will tomorrow
move to establish a Senate Inquiry into childcare in Australia, as the
sector experiences turmoil in the wake of the ABC Learning collapse.

The proposed Inquiry would have a broad scope to look at the need for
childcare reform in Australia, and report back in March 2009.

"The collapse of ABC Learning and the consequent instability it has
created nationwide has highlighted the need for urgent reform in the
sector, and this Inquiry will help determine the way forward," said
Senator Hanson-Young.

"The Rudd Government has prided itself for twelve months now on its
'Education Revolution', yet early childhood education has so far been
largely absent from the Government's reform agenda.

"The early learning and care of our youngest children has been
overlooked by governments to the point that one company was allowed to
hold a quarter of the long daycare places in this country.

"An Inquiry is needed to determine how the childcare sector overall can
be stabilised and improved, and which models of care are best for
parents and kids."

Senator Hanson-Young said the Greens' proposed Inquiry would look at the
role of all levels of government, regulations, licencing requirements,
training standards, and the feasibility of a national authority to
oversee childcare.

"We need to learn from mistakes of the past, and this Inquiry is a
chance to get key experts in the childcare sector around the table to
put forward their experience, expertise and solutions," she said.

"The Greens hope the Government will seize this opportunity to reform
childcare with expert community input, and support our proposed Senate
Inquiry tomorrow."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760