13 October 2026
Latest News
Members will recall ACA NSW since May 2026 encouraging as many services as possible to participate in the Federal Government's Service Delivery Price Project (SDPP).
The Federal Government's objective is:
"... building an evidence-based picture of the true and reasonable costs of delivering safe, quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) across Australia. This will help the government make data-driven decisions about the pathway to universal ECEC."
ACA NSW's view for participating and encouraging participation is simply what if the Federal Government's data and conclusions were inaccurately reflected, especially of small-medium sized services?
While services continue to receive taxpayer funds (even if they are the decisions of parents (ie where to direct their Child Care Subsidies)), governments and taxpayers will always expect to ensure that sufficient taxpayer funds are expended effectively and efficiently to achieve the maximum public good.
And should you be called to release your financial information, the Federal Government would be doing so under Section 203AA of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999. (NOTE: Large services are already legally required to share such financial information.)
Legally, members can of course challenge it via the Commonwealth’s Administrative Review Tribunal, the Federal Courts, or ultimately the High Court of Australia.
The "alternative" may be to volunteer for the Service Delivery Price Project as originally communicated since May 2026, assuming that is an option that remains available.
Members can contact the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au for assistance.
In the meantime, ACA NSW has also begun building its own financial database using trusted and de-identified data from NSW-based services. By 2027, such information will be useful to ACA NSW in verifying/contrasting/challenging governments' data and conclusions to ensure effective dialogue.
PUBLISHED: 13 OCTOBER 2026
