Childcare fee increases are outstripping inflation and wages growth by as much as 15 per cent, ramping up pressure on Australians amid the cost-of-living crisis even as the Albanese government pledges that its $5.4 billion “cheaper childcare” subsidy will drive down costs for families.

A report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found that childcare fees have soared as much as 32 per cent since September 2018, with larger and for-profit providers in particular charging more.