Opinion

Childcare package an early Christmas present to parents and children

For government to seek to save pennies by withholding access to early education for the children who will benefit from it the most is not just Scrooge-like behaviour, it’s a false economy.

Aruna Sathanapally and Jessica Geraghty

Dec 16, 2024 – 12.42pm

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Labor’s announcement of a $1.5 billion package of measures designed to make early childhood education and care more accessible and affordable is a Christmas gift to parents and children.

The new package invests in expanding childcare places and lifts the parental “activity test” that prevents some children from getting early childhood education and care.

Aruna Sathanapally is the CEO of Grattan Institute.

Jessica Geraghty is a Senior Associate in Grattan Institute’s Economic Prosperity and Democracy program.