Macklin Wrong on Child Care Costs

“Jenny Macklin is deliberately misleading the people of La Trobe with her claims about child care costs in the local area,” Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, said today.

“For a start, Ms Macklin’s claim that a family on $78,000 is paying up to $168 out of its own pocket for one child in full-time child care is just not true.

“Ms Macklin is ignoring Child Care Tax Rebate, which covers up to 30 per cent of out of pocket expenses to a maximum of over $4,000 per child per year. Her media statement even admits that the calculation is only based on Child Care Benefit and therefore does not include CCTR.

“A family in La Trobe earning $78,000 with one child in full time care would also receive more than $50 per week in CCTR, taking out of pocket costs to under $120 per week – or $2.30 an hour.

“And as Ms Macklin knows – or should know – only 7 per cent of families use full time child care.

“Ms Macklin needs to stop peddling misinformation to parents for her own political gain. The only thing she achieves is to discourage parents who may need child care from seeking it.

“Many child care services in La Trobe are reporting vacancies across all age groups on all days.

“If Ms Macklin is so convinced of shortages in Upwey, why isn’t she committing to building one of her taxpayer funded centres there?

“She says Labor will build new centres, but won’t commit to any until after the election. Is this because she knows her claims about child care shortages are unfounded and it will be the first of Labor’s promises to be broken should they win the election?

“Anyone, including Ms Macklin, wanting factual information of child care vacancies in a particular area, can contact the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305.”