Page 1082 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 May 2006

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

(3) calls on the ACT Government to:

(a) provide the Assembly with information on the:

(i) level of demand for childcare;

(ii) existing number of childcare places;

(iii) distribution of existing places and demand for places across the ACT; and

(iv) number of TAFE and university qualified childcare workers in the ACT including those not currently employed in childcare;

(b) develop a strategy to support the provision of high quality and affordable childcare by:

(i) looking for opportunities to work with private, cooperative and community childcare providers to ensure the level of supply for childcare is adequate and developed in areas with current shortages;

(ii) incorporating the use of schools and other community buildings for childcare where available;

(iii) ensuring an adequate supply of designated land and facilities, including direct sale to approved providers where appropriate; and

(iv) considering the development of a central childcare “waiting list” register to facilitate better information on childcare availability across the ACT; and

DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (10.47): When I moved this motion on International Women’s Day, I pointed out that ACT Labor policy strongly promotes the provision of childcare and that an adequate supply of high quality childcare is seen by ACT Labor and the Greens as “crucial to children’s development; vital to women’s independence and capacity; and creating family-friendly work environments”. I pointed out that the recently released ACOSS policy paper on childcare argues that the untargeted and inflationary childcare rebate should be scrapped and financial support directed to those who need it most. When debate was adjourned I was about to make the point that it is not simply a federal issue. The ACT government has real opportunities and responsibilities to address childcare needs in the territory.

A week after that, the ALP’s national childcare policy was unveiled. It includes the creation of a national database of childcare places to be coordinated by local government—something this motion also calls for. It commits to the introduction of a network of childcare centres at schools—something which is also suggested in this motion but of which the ACT government has been wary. I should note that, since then, the New South Wales government has already instigated the process of developing a database on the location of childcare centres and the demand for childcare.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .