Dr Bruce Flegg
Member for Moggill

2 December 2011

A Productivity Commission Report released this week has revealed increases of childcare fees at a rate of at least $42.75 per week with industry predicting costs could be as high as $125 a week. This is in contrast to the Gillard Federal Government’s announcement that fees would rise by only $ 8 - $ 9 a week. Once again Labor is out of touch and cash strapped parents are set to pay more for childcare every week, the State Opposition said today.

Shadow Minister for Education Dr Bruce Flegg said Labor’s failed Education and Care Services National Law was to blame and many working families struggling with the cost of living would not cope with the hikes.

"This is not good news – especially in the lead up to Christmas when families are already suffering from Labor’s constant cost of living increases," said Dr Flegg.

"Queensland families will be crippled by the news they’re going to be forced to find an extra money per child per week to pay for additional childcare staffing because of the Bligh government’s new requirement for a greater ratio of qualified staff to children in their care.

"During the previous sitting week, the LNP warned the Bligh government these costly changes would hurt parents of young children and we fought hard to amend the most costly part of the new law", Dr Flegg said.

"Yet Labor ignored our pleas for hip pocket relief and today the CanDo team’s fears were echoed by the Productivity Commission's report confirming the 15% childcare cost increase.

"This cost of living increase is going to have a significant knock on effect for some families - possibly forcing them out of the workforce because they can’t afford childcare and the cost of childcare could well outweigh what they can earn.

"Pricing the cost of childcare beyond many Queensland families, can only result in more children going into 'backyard' care with friends and relatives.

"Centres already report parents who have to leave children with friends, neighbours and relatives because they can’t afford current charges – the Bligh government clearly isn’t listening to them, because they’re about to make the cost of living pain even worse.

"This matter can now only be dealt with through the Ministerial Council as the Bligh government adopted the Victorian law rather than mirroring it with a Queensland law that we could have changed when it wasn't working", Dr Flegg said.

"The CanDo team believes in laying a strong, early education foundation for young Queenslanders.