Families may get childcare subsidies in NSW budget

Affordable childcare is understood to be a key component of Premier Dominic Perrottet’s first budget, including vouchers or subsidies, but the Opposition fear other services may suffer.

Families would have access to greater childcare spaces with funding for new centres under a package the Perrottet Government is understood to be working on as part of its family-focused Budget.

Treasurer Matt Kean has made no secret of his plans to invest in affordable early childhood education – and with women ditching the Coalition at the federal election, the NSW Liberals are keen to ­ensure it will not suffer the same fate.

But given Anthony Albanese went to the election with a promise of making childcare cheaper for families, the NSW Opposition is questioning whether Mr Kean should still enter into the traditionally federal area of responsibility.

Affordable childcare is understood to feature heavily in Dominic Perrottet’s first budget. Picture: Thinkstock

It is understood the pro­posals NSW Government ­bureaucrats have been looking at have come out of its review to boost women in the workforce, which included creating greater flexibility for working parents.

According to the NSW ­Opposition, the options on the table are estimated to cost around $800 million per annum and may include subsidies or vouchers for parents to access childcare.

The Opposition also believes the government is examining the construction of centres for councils and not-for-profits, especially in “childcare desert” areas where options were limited.

However, it is not clear what recommendations have been passed by the State government expenditure review committee.

Labor leader Chris Minns urged the Government to ensure the traditional State areas of spending will not be ­impacted.

“NSW Labor is concerned that wages, schools, hospitals and infrastructure projects aren’t impacted should the state government enter the child care space,” Mr Minns said.