CHILD CARE COSTS RISE, AGAIN

The latest report by the ABS shows the cost of child care continues to rise under the Turnbull Government, with fees rising by 1.0 per cent during the June Quarter and 6.0 per cent over the previous twelve months.

 

This will not come as a surprise to families who are sadly used to being slugged with higher fees under the Turnbull Government.  

 

Under the Liberals, child care costs have steadily increased, with total child care fees growing on average by 5 per cent annually since they were elected in 2013.

 

Families are paying on average $2,100 more for child care and early education under the Liberals.

 

Unfortunately, despite the empty assurances of the Minister, the Government’s new child care system is unlikely to see any reduction in the growth in fees, as we have already seen evidence of centres hiking their fees by 10 per cent.

 

The reality is the new child care subsidy benchmark price is only indexed to CPI, and will erode in value as child care fees are rising at twice the inflation rate.

 

Not only are there 279,000 families who are worse off under the Turnbull Government’s unfair child care changes, many families are being forced to pay more out of pocket to access early education for their children.

 

What is worse, these changes are hurting those families who can least afford it.