Minister for Education Dan Tehan said today the Morrison Government’s child care reforms were driving down out-of-pocket costs for parents.
The Government’s Child Care Subsidy was introduced on 2 July 2018. According to data released today from final quarter before the subsidy was introduced:
- More than 1.2 million children attended more than 18,700 approved child care services for an average of 23.6 hours a week.
- The number of approved child care services grew by 1.7 per cent.
- Total estimated Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate entitlement for the June quarter 2018 was $1.5 billion.
"On 2 July last year our Government introduced the most significant reforms to child care in more than 40 years to support Australian families," Mr Tehan said.
"Our reforms were aimed at supporting parents who access child care so they can work, train, study or volunteer.
"The highest rate of Child Care Subsidy is provided to those on the lowest incomes, with more hours of care available for those who work the most.
"After the introduction of our Government’s Child Care Subsidy on 2 July 2018, we have seen the largest quarterly fall in child care prices in a decade and a 10.6 per cent decrease over the last six months, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ consumer price index.
"Because the Morrison Government is keeping our economy strong, our annual investment in the Child Care Subsidy will grow to around $10 billion a year."
