The Coalition Government this week introduced legislation to provide simpler, more affordable and flexible child care for families across Australia.
Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton said the Coalition Government will invest almost $40 billion over the next four years to provide greater child care choices for more than 1.2 million families across Australia under the Jobs for Families Child Care package.
“Our priority is to increase access to care for local families who need it most, particularly working parents,” Mr Coulton said.
“The current child care system is complex, with subsidies and programmes that are poorly targeted and not suited to the needs of modern working families.”
The key elements of the package are:
- new, simpler Child Care Subsidy, which will improve child care affordability;
- Child Care Safety Net, which will improve accessibility; and
- Nanny Pilot Programme, which will enhance flexibility.
“A feature of these reforms is the new Child Care Subsidy, which will improve child care affordability and replace the current, complex Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate with a single, means tested payment,” Mr Coulton said.
“The new Child Care Subsidy will start in July 2017 to help low and middle income families, which is great news for families right across my electorate of Parkes.
“Families using child care in 2017, with family incomes between $65,710 and $170,710, will be on average around $1500 a year better off under this package.
“Grandparents who are on income support and have primary care of their grandchildren will also be eligible for up to 100 hours of child care subsidy without having to meet the Child Care Subsidy activity test.
“These grandparents will receive a subsidy of 100 per cent of their fees up to a generous hourly fee cap (up to 120 per cent) of the usual Child Care Subsidy cap.
“These reforms will give families throughout Western New South Wales the confidence that they can find child care that fits with their busy lives and that their children are getting the best possible care.”
For more information on the Jobs for Families Child Care Package please visit www.education.gov.au
