THOSE FAMILIES WITH JOBS THAT WILL BE WORSE OFF UNDER GOVERNMENT’S UNFAIR CHILD CARE PACKAGE

Recent comments from Simon Birmingham have raised questions about whether the Minister understands who is actually going to miss out as a result of his own child care package.

 

After Labor exposed the government’s hit list of 279,000 families who will be worse off under his changes, the Minister was quick to assert it will only be families with high incomes that will lose support.

 

This is not correct.

 

The Government’s own figures reveal 88,000 families in the lowest income bracket –  up to $65,710 of the combined family income – will be worse off.   

 

Under the new child care package, families will have to meet the Turnbull Government’s arbitrary, cookie-cutter activity test criteria to ensure they will benefit.

 

Many of those workers who are likely to fall through the cracks and lose support for early education and child care, are:

 

Casual workers

Shift workers

Seasonal workers

 

The reality is it is these families that are on the Minister’s hit list.

 

For families where one parent might do a couple of shifts a month to earn some extra money for Christmas presents – support is no longer guaranteed.

 

For families that rely on seasonal work on the land, or in construction – support is no longer guaranteed.

 

And for those parents balancing caring responsibilities and wanting to access early education for their young children – support is no longer guaranteed.

 

It is clear from the Minister's comments he doesn’t believe these families deserve support.

 

The Turnbull Government’s rhetoric exposes what they really think, they see early education as baby sitting, and a workplace entitlement.

 

Labor sees early education as a critical part of a child’s development.

 

This package pitches parents against their own children’s access to early education and development.  

 

Whilst Labor wants to see more women back in the workforce, the truth is that for some families, including many on low incomes, this package will reduce their child care support. That won’t help them get more work, or get back into the workforce.

 

And what’s worse – the government is refusing to tell these families the truth. They are happy for July 2 to roll around and quietly rip this money away. This is a government that is very active and vocal when it thinks you owe it money. But when it comes to taking this money away from people, they expect families to digest their complex rules and use a clunky online calculator.

 

The Minister should cut the spin and be honest with those families who will be worse off under the Turnbull Government’s unfair child care changes.