Should Child Care be Nationalised / State regulated? – Take our mini-poll

Should Child Care be Nationalised / State regulated? – Take our mini-poll

The current situation with ABC and CFK highlights just how important child care is to the average Australian working family.

The Greens say a Senate inquiry is needed to set out the future of childcare in Australia and this week Senator Sarah Hanson-Young introduced a motion to the Senate calling for an inquiry, which would report back in March next year.

They recommend that Child Care should be deemed an "essential service" and governed by regulatory bodies similar to gas, electricity and water.

The Senator says her proposal would go beyond the recent problems associated with ABC Learning, and look at the complete future of the childcare sector.

"We know that child care in Australia hasn't been run as efficiently and effectively as it could be," she said.

"We've got community based non-profit service providers and small independent operators who have been crying out for more government leadership on the issue".

"This inquiry is to get all of those issues on the table. What parents want to see is the best quality of care for their kids, which is regulated on a national level, supported by government, and to ensure that whatever money is made from child care goes back into the care of their children".

"Child care needs to be seen as an essential service."

Click here to tell us if you agree.

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CareforKids.com.au also has some thoughts on this issue.
Read our industry comment here