The Turnbull Government’s own secret hit list shows that 3,234 families in Werriwa will be worse off under the Turnbull Government’s new child care package, says the federal Labor MP Anne Stanley.
She says these local families are part of the 279,000 families around Australia which will be worse off under the new package, whi9ch will come into effect on July 1.
“This is extremely worrying news as most of the families which stand to be worse off are those in the lowest income cohort – that is families with a combined income of less than $65,710 a year,’’ Ms Stanley said.
Under the Government’s package, families will have to satisfy a complex set of rules to qualify for government assistance – with a work test and a means test set to hit vulnerable families the worst.
The work test will require families to satisfy minimum levels of “approved activities’’ each fortnight – which Labor says will knock thousands of low income families out of the system.
“This new slug on families is on top of the 18 per cent growth in fees (to March 2017) since the election of the Liberal Government – which means families are on average paying over $2,000 more a year,’’ Ms Stanley said.
“The Turnbull Government is seriously out of touch when it claims credit for an increase in fees, and for introducing a new childcare package which leaves over 3,234 families in Werriwa worse off.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“This is another kick in the guts for families struggling with flat wages growth and facing massive hikes in their electricity, education and health bills.[/social_quote]
“If the Turnbull Government was serious about supporting Australian families they wouldn’t be rubbing their unfair policies in the face of those families struggling to get by.’’
The Werriwa MP said “Labor has a proud record in early education and child care reform’’, including;
· Reducing the financial burden of child care on families with increases to the child care rebate from 30 to 50 per cent of out of pocket costs;
· Increased the child care subsidy to $7,500
· Investing $970 million to create universal access to preschool for 4 year olds in partnership with the States and Territories.
