End Uncertainty Over Child Care Centres, Says Hartsuyker

27 November, 2008

The Rudd Government should act to end the uncertainty for local parents over two ABC child care centres, The Nationals’ Federal Member for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker, said today (Thursday).

His call comes as the Receiver handling ABC Learning’s affairs announced that the centres in Thompson’s Road, Coffs Harbour, and Arthur Street, Grafton, were still under review.  Another announcement is expected next week.

 

“The Rudd Government is just prolonging the uncertainty for many parents,” Mr Hartsuyker said.  “It promised a contingency plan but we still haven’t seen any sign of it.

 

“Meanwhile, those parents using the centres under review need to know whether they have somewhere for their child or children to go for the coming year.

 

“For many, if they can’t get child care, they can’t go to work.  This is a particular problem on the Mid North Coast.  Many young families have moved to the area as sea-changers and have left their traditional support networks of grandparents and other family members behind.

 

“For the sake of the parents in the 386 centres under review, the Coalition calls on the Rudd Government to reveal its contingency plan and what measures it will take to help parents affected by closures after 31 December.

 

“Once again, the Rudd Government has promised a lot and delivered nothing.  It’s doing with child care exactly what it has done with petrol and grocery prices, churning out the rhetoric while taking no effective action whatever.”

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