Treasurer Jim Chalmers promises Tuesday’s budget will be ‘family-friendly’
Changes to the childcare subsidy plus a huge boost to play groups and toy libraries will be features of the Albanese government’s ‘family-friendly’ budget on Tuesday.
NSW
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Toy libraries and intergenerational playgroups are features of a “family-friendly budget” that promises to cut the cost of early education and childcare for almost all Australian families with children in care.
The Albanese government estimates 1.26 million families will be better off under changes to the childcare subsidy, which will enable children to access critical early learning – and parents to get back to paid work.
In NSW about 410,000 families will benefit from the changes.
Under the $4.5 billion reforms scheduled from July 2023, fees for 96 per cent of families will be cut, with the maximum childcare subsidy rate to increase to 90 per cent for the first child in care.
The government estimates that a family on a median combined income of $120,000 with one child in early childhood education will save $1780 in the first year.
“Australians will see a family-friendly budget on Tuesday,” federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.
“Cheaper childcare and expanded paid parental leave will make life easier for families and take some of the pressure off household budgets.
“These measures will give families greater choice about how they balance work and family, and give kids the best start in life.
“This is exactly what responsible cost-of-living relief with an economic dividend looks like.”
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the government will also provide $12 million to bolster playgroups and toy libraries — a key entry point to early childhood education for vulnerable families.
The funds will be used to increase the number of intergenerational playgroups (with older Australians), as well as establish new playgroups in regional and remote locations where there are gaps, including in First Nations communities.
The accessibility of playgroups for children with disability and/or developmental concerns will also be improved, while new resources would be purchased for toy libraries across the country.
With the biggest area of brain development for children occurring between the ages of 0-5, Education Minister Jason Clare said it was crucial to ensure they had access to play-based learning, regardless of socio-economic status.
“The government’s reforms to make affordable early learning and care is good for children, good for families and good for the economy,” Mr Clare said.
“This is economic reform — boosting productivity and cutting the cost of living for more than a million families across the country.
“It means parents have the chance to do more paid work if they want to, which means thousands of skilled workers for the economy.”
Early Education and Youth Minister Anne Aly said early childhood education and care played a vital role in supporting families.
“Access to early childhood education means improved economic security for women, where families can make the choices around workforce participation and early childhood education that work for them,” she said.
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Originally published as Treasurer Jim Chalmers promises Tuesday’s budget will be ‘family-friendly’
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