Federal Election 2022: Parties clash over childcare promises in Sydney electorate of Wentworth

From free daycare for all to having the government butt out of the system entirely, Wentworth candidates have very different views on the childcare system. Find out where they stand.

With ballooning waitlists at sought-after centres and daily fees coming alarming close to the $200 per day mark in some areas, childcare is a hot topic among eastern suburbs parents.

A new report by Mitchell Institute and Victoria University which overlapped census data and places at childcare centres showed in the northern part of the eastern suburbs there are 2.27 daycare aged children for every one spot and 2.09 children in the southern eastern suburbs.

We asked every candidate for Wentworth for their take to help readers inform their vote.

Incumbent member Dave Sharma said the Morrison government’s recent fast tracking of the increase in the rate of the Child Care Subsidy for the second child, and the removal of the annual cap, is expected to benefit over 6,180 families living in Wentworth, and 250,000 families across Australia.

Dave Sharma is a father of three. Photo by Renee Nowytarger

“This is a challenge, but there are a range of price options for child care in the east. The average local fee in the area is around $139, and the Waverley Council-provided childcare facilities, for instance, charge $138-$142 per day,” Mr Sharma said.

“The CCS is intended to help alleviate the out-of-pocket costs for childcare for families, and will cover up to half the daily cost for those eligible, and our expansion of the scheme will help address some of these pressures.”

Mr Sharma acknowledged reduced subsidies for families with one high earning parent can often push the low earning parent (often the mother) out of the workforce – a dynamic often seen in the east.

“Yes I agree that is a problem, and it means our female workforce participation rate is lower than it should be. Some ideas I’ve been exploring including a less steep ‘taper’ of the CCS, and the possibility of tax deductibility for child care expenses (which would help families whose earnings mean they are ineligible for the CCS).

Educator Angela Castro with preschoolers Lola and Violet. Centres like this one in Waverley are incredibly sought after. Picture: Richard Dobson

“As an engaged father with three children and a working partner, I understand the need for affordable and quality childcare, and I will continue to pursue better options as a priority.”

Allegra Spender recalls the struggle all too well from when she was a new mum.

“I remember trying to get my kids into childcare when I fell pregnant. It was a real challenge, and some of the waitlists were extraordinary – I still got calls three years later from some childcare centres letting me know a spot was now available,” Ms Spender said.

The independent candidate believes childcare should be cheaper, more accessible, and better quality which will lead to a stronger, more inclusive economy – and help children arrive at school ready to learn.

While Ms Spender said the Morrison government’s recent subsidy shake up was a “step in the right direction” she supported removing the annual cap and lifting the subsidies even higher.

“I’d also like to see the federal government work with state and local governments to support training more childcare workers and making it easier for new centres to be built where needed,” Ms Spender said.

Labor candidate for Wentworth Tim Murray with his wife Pauline and son Oscar at the last election. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts).

Labor’s Tim Murray, a father of three whose wife Pauline is an early years educator, said Labor’s childcare subsidy policy was far more generous than the coalition’s.

“Census data indicates that most family income in Wentworth are $175,000 or higher. Under Labor, if your family income is $175,000 your childcare subsidy for one or more children would be 71 per cent and under a Morrison government it would be 50 per cent for the first child and 80 per cent for the second,” Mr Murray said.

“So if you have one child in childcare that would be $13,513 (in subsidies) under an Albanese government and under a Morrison government that would be $9,500. If you have two kids it would be $27,028 under Labor and $24,500 under the LNP.”

Federal election candidate for the seat of Wentworth, Greens Dominic Wy Kanak Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Mr Murray said council run centres also played an important role in areas with high real estate values like the eastern suburbs.

Currently, Waverley council operates three centres and Woollahra one although several Woollahra councillors have been agitating for more centres to open including The Greens’ Nicola Grieve who just last week raised a motion for council to support the Thrive by Five initiative.

“Real estate is expensive in Wentworth and that puts a lot of pressure on cost for childcare centres. Waverley Council has 230 childcare place that charge $138 a day. I believe the federal government should support local councils through capital grants to increase the number of childcare spaces available. Should I be elected I will work in the Labor caucus for such grants to be made to Wentworth,” Mr Murray said.

United Australia Party candidate for Wentworth Natalie Dumer. Picture: Natalie Dumer/Instagram

Greens candidate Dominic WY Kanak, who sits together with Mr Murray on Waverley council, said he his party wanted free childcare for all.

“Early education is known to provide significant learning benefits to kids while making it free removes the steep financial barriers to workforce participation for parents,” Mr WY Kanak said.

“The combination of these benefits would repay the additional cost of making it free.”

The United Australia Party’s Natalie Dumer said she’s all for removing the red tape placed on centres which contributes to the cost.

Daniel Lewkovitz, Liberal Democrats’ candidate for Wentworth. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Child care is an incredibly important issue, the cost of which is heightened by government requirements placed on child care centres and these need to be addressed,” Ms Dumer said.

Liberal Democrat Daniel Lewkovitz agrees the government needs to back off the childcare sector.

“Much of the costs of childcare have come about ironically due to the subsidies themselves,” Mr Lewkovitz said.

“Whenever the government creates a trough full of money, all the pigs will get their snouts in the trough. We have seen this with rorting of Pink Batts, the NDIS, solar and wind subsidies and of course childcare.

“Over and above this, the costs in running childcare centres are in most cases a direct consequence of the massive administrative costs attached to them over and above high costs of direct labour, rent and so forth.”

Mr Lewkovitz also took aim at the arduous training requirements for educators.

“These are basic skills that literally billions of people have managed successfully without spending a single day at a registered training organisation let alone a 36 week course,” Mr Lewkovitz said.

Originally published as Federal Election 2022: Parties clash over childcare promises in Sydney electorate of Wentworth