On 8 February 2017, the Federal Coalition Government introduced into parliament the combined bill, Social Services Legislation Amendment (Omnibus Savings and Child Care Reform) Bill 2017. In terms of legislative process, the Federal Government is proposing to combine 19 pieces of legislation which includes all of the remaining 2014 budget cuts.
The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) is pleased that the Federal Government recognises the urgency of childcare reforms and is prioritising additional support for families. The Jobs for Families (JfF) package is important enough in its own right and ACA is adamant the package will pay for itself through increased workforce participation, increased in productivity gains to the economy both now and into the future and can already be funded through reductions in Mid-Year Economic Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) and increase in compliance activity predominantly in Family Daycare (FDC).
Notwithstanding, ACA is continuing to pursue the increase of the minimum from 12 hours to 15 hours, an increase in income threshold from $65,710 to $100,000 before activity test kicks in, increased support for Budget Based Funding (BBF) services and Aboriginal and Tores Straits Islander (ATSI) children, and a 6 week transition period for when a parent's change of circumstances occur.
Australian families do not need more parliamentary inquiries and time wasted with this bogged down in parliamentary processes. And the sector, with amendments, are happy to support the JfF. Anymore delays to legislation could have a significant impact on the implementation date.
It is worth noting that Federal Minister for Education, the Hon Simon Birmingham MP, today acknowledged that two days is very important to early childhood education and care providing benefits to children and we are encouraged that he is considering the views of the sector and experts that 15 hours is the minimum level with which this can be achieved.