ANOTHER DAY AND ANOTHER BUDGET CUT HURTING FAMILIES

With only a weekend remaining before the Turnbull Government’s unfair changes to child care take effect – changes which will leave one in four families worse off – comes another budget slash and burn from the Liberals.

 

In a further blow for families, next week funding expires for the National Occasional Care Program leaving families across rural and regional Australia without flexible care arrangements.

 

The National Occasional Care Program is a national program between the Commonwealth and some state governments to provide seasonal and sessional care in areas where child care centres are in low supply or unviable. It commenced in 2014 under the Abbott Government.

 

Cutting this funding will see 143 providers in Victoria alone without critical funding to support those families who rely on this service.

 

The National Occasional Care Program allows parents to participate in a range of day to day activities, including work, study, respite or medical appointments.

 

Without critical funding to these providers they cannot be guaranteed to provide occasional care to the families who require it most.

 

This is another kick in the guts to rural and regional families, with funding to mobile early childhood services forcing to shut up shop under the Turnbull Government’s unfair child care package.

 

Yet again, Nationals MPs have been completely silent on this cut, which will leave families in their communities worse off.

 

The Turnbull Government would rather prioritise $80 billion tax handout for the big banks than supporting rural and regional families.