Federal Government announces major inquiry into child care

Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of the commencement of a Productivity Commission inquiry into child care and early childhood learning across Australia.

This announcement delivers on the Government’s priority commitment to task the Productivity Commission to inquire into how the child care system can be made more flexible, affordable and accessible.

The inquiry is the first public examination of its type since the 1990s.

“For many busy parents and families across Mitchell the childcare system is clearly past its use-by date, said Alex Hawke.

“This inquiry is long overdue, delivers on our pre-election commitment, and shows the Government is serious about listening to parents who rely on this vital service.”

“Our government is committed to working with parents and services to look at more flexible, affordable and accessible child care and learning choices for their children. Our child care system should be responsive to what families need, not the five-day 9am-5pm working week of last century.”

Families in Mitchell deserve quality care and early learning at a price they can afford with services available when they need them. Our Government wants Australian families to have more choices when it comes to the decision they make about the care of their children”, Alex Hawke concluded.

The inquiry will report back on current and future needs, the different types of care available, the changing patterns of work in families, and how future government assistance should be paid.

The Productivity Commission will conduct public hearings and invite submissions as part of the inquiry process and is expected to report by the end of October 2014.

More details are available at www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/childcare