Federal government promises $1.8m to build new childcare centre for Kingston SE if re-elected

Kingston SE has been battling a crippling childcare shortage for years, but the federal government is finally promising to help if re-elected.

Parents in South Australia’s South-East would eventually be able to go back to work as the Coalition promises to address the childcare crisis plaguing the region if re-elected.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised to spend $1.8m to establish a new childcare centre in Kingston SE, finally allowing more parents to send their kids to childcare while they go to work.

The South-East community has been battling a serious shortfall of childcare and after-school-care services in the region since 2017.

Regional groups expressed concerns the shortage was hampering children’s ability to socialise and learn – and stopping towns from attracting new residents.

Barker MP Tony Pasin, who has been pushing his own government to address the crisis, on Thursday announced Mr Morrison would invest $1.8m to build a new childcare centre in Kingston SE if re-elected.

“Increasing the childcare offering in Kingston SE will give the opportunity to increase household incomes, easing cost-of-living pressures and it will open the door for local businesses to a new pool of employees,” Mr Pasin said.

“Allowing parents back into the workforce will really boost the local economy.”

Barker MP Tony Pasin previously blasted his own government after Kingston initially missed out on funding to set up a new childcare following the Black Summer bushfires.

Last week, a report by Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute found 82 per cent of regional South Australians were living in “childcare deserts”, where there were acute shortages of services.

Kingston SE Early Learning and Childcare Services Working Group chairwoman, Kirsty Starling, said Mr Morrison’s funding commitment was a “game-changer” for the community.

“It will allow for improved learning opportunities for young children, enable parents to return to the workforce and support our local businesses,” Ms Starling said.

In February, Mr Pasin blasted his own government after Kingston Council missed out on $1.6m in Black Summer recovery funds for a new centre.

Earlier this month, Ms Starling said there was only space for up to 14 children at the town’s existing childcare service, and there was a waiting list of 48.

“We’re a rural and remote community and have vulnerable children that can’t access early learning, and we know that’s having a detrimental impact to their lives,” she told The Advertiser at the time.

Mr Pasin’s Barker electorate is one of the safest Coalition seats in the country, with a margin of 18.9 per cent.

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