JULIE COLLINS MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
MEMBER FOR FRANKLIN

SENATOR CAROL BROWN
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR FAMILIES AND PAYMENT
SENATOR FOR TASMANIA


MEDIA RELEASE

PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION HEARINGS ON CHILDCARE MUST COME TO
TASMANIA


The Productivity Commission must hold public hearings in Tasmania as part of its
inquiry into Child Care and Early Childhood Learning to give Tasmanian families and
child care providers the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed changes to the
child care system.
The Labor Member for Franklin, Julie Collins, and Labor Senator Carol Brown said it
was not fair or reasonable that Tasmania has not been included in the public
hearings which have been scheduled.
It is vital that Tasmanians get to have a say on how their children are cared for in
their early years of their lives, Ms Collins said.
The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry specifically note that there are shortfalls in
reaching and properly supporting the needs of children with disabilities and
vulnerable children, regional and rural families and parents who are moving from
income support into study and employment.

Tasmania is a regional area where some families work non-standard hours and
many children who need quality and affordable child care are from vulnerable
families.

Our fear is that Tony Abbott will use the Productivity Commission as an alibi for
more cuts to child care.

Not only has Tony Abbott already announced over $1 billion in child care cuts, he
has also ruled out additional money into child care so that anything new will mean
cuts to existing services.

If the Government was serious about improving our childcare system, it would
reverse the billion dollars in cuts.

It makes no sense for the Prime Minister to commission a review to look at ways to
make childcare more affordable at the same time that he is persisting in up to a
billion dollars in cuts.

Senator Brown said the Productivity Commission had also criticised Tony Abbotts
unfair and unaffordable Paid Parental Leave Scheme.

In yet another major blow for Tony Abbotts unfair and extravagant Paid Parental
Leave scheme, the Productivity Commission has joined the army of critics who think
this money could be better spent elsewhere.

We already know his own colleagues, ordinary Australians and big business think
his Paid Parental Leave scheme should be dumped, and now it appears the very
organisation that he has tasked with examining ways of getting women into work
has confirmed that Tony Abbott's scheme is a dud.

Tony Abbott wants to spend $5.5 billion a year giving more money to millionaire
mum's to take six months off to have a baby.

Tony Abbott should heed the mountain of evidence and scrap his unfair scheme.

The 900 page Productivity Commission Report into Childcare and Early Childhood
Learning was released today.





MEDIA CONTACT
COLLINS OFFICE - LISA MYCKO 0409 584 840
BROWNS OFFICE SUE BAILEY 0417 550 279


22 JULY 2014