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PM to scrap childcare activity test, fund centres in ‘deserts’

Phillip Coorey
Phillip CooreyPolitical editor

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Parents will no longer have to work or study to be eligible for taxpayer-funded childcare subsidies, and the government will spend up to $1 billion funding centres in underserved areas, in a major step by Anthony Albanese towards delivering universal and affordable early childhood education.

In a pre-election speech on Wednesday, the prime minister will scrap the activity test for up to three days a week of care and, according to sources familiar with the policy, announce taxpayer funding for early education centres in so-called “childcare deserts”, which exist predominantly in the outer suburbs and the regions.

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Phillip Coorey is the political editor based in Canberra. He is a two-time winner of the Paul Lyneham award for press gallery excellence. Connect with Phillip on Facebook and Twitter. Email Phillip at pcoorey@afr.com

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/pm-to-scrap-childcare-activity-test-fund-centres-in-deserts-20241209-p5kwtq