Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of the motion moved by the member for Charlton. Before turning to questions specifically about family day care, let me say this: it is clear to Labor members of this House that Australia's future productivity depends in large part on getting child care right. For us, this means giving every child every chance for the best start in life through early childhood education of the highest quality. It also means giving their parents every choice in balancing family and work responsibilities. Those are Labor's priorities. The contrast could not be starker with this government's unfair and unaffordable paid parental leave. As part of this challenge, family day care presently offers quality, flexible early childhood education where it is needed most. The $157 million cut in funding is putting hundreds of services at risk of closure or forcing them to increase fees and pushing families away.

I saw firsthand the valuable contribution family day care makes to our community in Scullin when I visited Boori Children's Services in Epping. Boori Children's Services Centre is part of the Whittlesea Family Day Care Scheme, providing family day care for 214 children and coordinated by the city of Whittlesea. I was struck by the passion and commitment of the educators there, as well as how much the children obviously enjoyed being there. Families right across Scullin will be impacted by these cruel and petty cuts, none of which were promised before the last election—another nasty surprise from this government. Families will either have to pay more in fees or see their children out of care when services close. If services choose to stay open, Family Day Care Australia estimates that fees will rise by around $35 a week as a result of this funding cut. Many families in Scullin simply cannot afford the cuts, the closures or the cost increases.

One reason this will have such an impact is the flexibility this service offers to parents. Some children are there every day of the week and some are there just one day a week. This suits local families and it suits the children. Every child has their own education program and a personal relationship with the educators. At Boori Children's Services Centre, one of the educators, Karen Hassed, has been there for over 20 years. She started when her child attended, and she has been there ever since. This is a sign of a commitment to the service that the government simply cannot or will not comprehend. In total, there are 26 educators employed at this centre, all of whom, as I have seen, share the same level of passion and professionalism in their work. It is important that we recognise in this place the professionalism and the education role that staff play. They are educators with professional qualifications. These centres are places of learning as much as they are places of care and support. These staff deserve to be treated with respect.

The City of Whittlesea estimates that $85,000 in funding will be cut from the Whittlesea family day care scheme from July next year. This will force this service to either close or increase its fees, placing a substantial impost on families, many of whom are struggling. The Whittlesea family day care scheme is only one of nine family day care services in Scullin which will be affected by these funding cuts. The others are Nillumbik family day care scheme; Al Raja family day care; Gabow family day care; Greater Tomorrow family day care service; KW 5 Star Kids Services; Our Future family day care; and Shine Bright family day care. Family day care has been operating in Australia for over 35 years. It is part of the community fabric. In outer-suburban communities, such as the ones that I represent, it is particularly important in offering families real choice to balance the competing elements of their lives. I remind the House that, before the election, the Prime Minister promised there would be no cuts to education. But this budget cuts $1 billion of funding out of early childhood services. Australian families and early childhood educators deserve better.

I thank the Early Years Program coordinator, Penny Karagaslis; the coordination and support officer, Jo Foster; and educators Tina Nguyen, Karen Hassed, Trudi Abbott, Ramani Perera and Narelle Groves at Boori Children's Services Centre for showing me firsthand the real impact of the valuable work they do and the contribution they make every day to our community. High-quality, accessible and affordable child care is a fundamental responsibility for a national government committed to boosting employment participation and giving our children every chance for the best start in life. Supporting family day care is an important element of this. The motion is to be supported.

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