McCORMACK WELCOMES EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE RELIEF PACKAGE

Childcare will be free for all parents working in essential jobs.

Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said thousands of families across the Riverina and Central West would benefit from an expected $1.6 billion boost to assist in childcare.

Under the plan, the Australian Government will pay services which remain open and do not chanrge families for care. Services will receive payments based on 50 per cent of their average fees, up to a maximum of the hourly rate cap, based on enrolments in the fortnight before 2 March.

Mr McCormack said the payment, combined with the $130 billion JobKeeper payment announced earlier this week, would help to ensure childcare services in the Riverina and Central West kept their doors open and workers employed.

“We are all in this for the long haul and we all need to do our part to get through this together,” Mr McCormack said.

“Childcare services will have to remain open and not charge families fees if they accept the Government’s payment.

“This will ease the pressure being felt for many families who are adjusting to the significant changes we all have to go through to ensure we get through this COVID-19 crisis as best we can.”

The Government will also:

  • Allow childhood education and care services to waive out-of-pocket fees for families where the centre is open, but children aren’t attending because of COVID-19

  • Provide $453.2 million for preschools in 2021 to support almost 350,000 children to attend preschool

The new system is expected to begin on 6 April, with payments to start flowing at the end of the week. The system will be reviewed after one month, with an extension to be considered after three months. The payments will be paid in lieu of the Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child Care Subsidy payments.

Childcare services seeking health and situation information about COVID-19 should contact the 24/7 National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. Information is also available from https://www.dese.gov.au/news/coronavirus-covid-19.

For the latest information on COVID-19, please visit www.australia.gov.au.

Shane Manning