A private equity-backed childcare business has lambasted Goodstart Early Learning, the sector’s biggest operator, claiming its non-profit rival’s commercial discipline has drifted and operators are capable of better returns without leaning on taxpayers.

The comments were made by Guardian Childcare and Education chief executive Warren Bright – Goodstart’s chief operating officer for six years until 2019 – in a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s inquiry into the sector.