Strong action continues against dodgy child care operators

The Morrison Government does not tolerate dodgy child care providers and has suspended or cancelled another ten services in the first three months of 2019. 

Minister for Education Dan Tehan said 277 operators have now been placed on the compliance register since its introduction in January 2018. 

“The Morrison Government continues to take action against non-compliant or dodgy providers in order to protect children, families and to safeguard taxpayer dollars,” Mr Tehan said. 

“Compliance checks are an important part of the new Child Care Subsidy to ensure families can access high-quality, affordable child care. 

“Because of the Morrison Government’s Child Care Subsidy out-of-pocket child care costs for families are down by 7.9 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Consumer Price Index. 

“The Government is looking closely at the fees charged by Family Day Care providers. We have already cancelled or suspended more than a quarter of all Family Day Care services. 

“The Australian Government will continue to ensure that the system isn’t being exploited by unscrupulous providers. 

"In 2017-18, the Government carried out 3,900 compliance checks, cancelled 217 services, and suspended 34 services. 

“It’s in stark contrast to Labor who in 2012-13 carried out only 523 compliance checks and failed to cancel or suspend a single provider. 

“The Government’s ongoing enforcement effort has prevented up to $2.8 billion in child care fee assistance from flowing to dodgy providers from the beginning of 2014 to June 2018. 

“Since January 2014, 44 people have been charged with criminal offences for child care fraud and, of those, 21 have been found guilty.” 

The Child Care Enforcement Action Register is available at http://www.education.gov.au/child-care-enforcement-action-register.