December 11th 2024.
If the federal government is re-elected next year, families can expect some positive changes in the childcare system. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed in a speech today, that the government will be implementing a new policy that will provide three days of subsidised childcare per week. This move is in line with the recommendations made by the Productivity Commission in September and is expected to cost $427 million over the course of five years.
Under this new policy, families earning up to $530,000 per year will be eligible for the subsidised childcare, a significant increase from the previous income threshold. Additionally, the notorious activity test, which linked a family's level of support to their work schedule, will be scrapped. Prime Minister Albanese believes that these changes will pave the way for a world-class universal early education system.
But that's not all. A new $1 billion fund will also be established to build and expand early education centres. This is the largest investment ever made by an Australian government in new childcare services, and it will begin with the construction or expansion of over 160 centres. However, it seems that the Coalition is not on board with this policy, as Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has already expressed his opposition towards it.
He believes that this move will only benefit wealthy families who do not have to work. However, the government and social advocates argue that the activity test has been a barrier for low-income families in accessing affordable childcare. Education Minister Jason Clare pointed out that there are children from disadvantaged backgrounds who do not have access to books until they start school, which puts them at a disadvantage compared to their peers.
This change in policy aims to address this issue and ensure that every child has the opportunity to develop the necessary skills before starting school. Currently, the level of subsidy a family receives depends on various factors such as income, number and age of children, and the parents' work schedule. However, with the removal of the work requirement, families will receive the same level of support regardless of their work status.
These changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2026, if Labor wins the next election. In the meantime, you can stay updated with all the latest news, including politics, sport, and weather, by downloading the 9News app on your smartphone. With this app, you can also receive notifications whenever there is a breaking news story. So, make sure to download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
