Senator Rachel Siewert Senator for Western Australia Committee Chair Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Sent via email - [email protected]
Friday 3 March 2017
RE: SOCIAL SERVICES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (OMNIBUS SAVINGS AND CHILD CARE REFORM) BILL 2017
Dear Senator Siewert,
The Parenthood welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Omnibus Savings and Child Care Reform) Bill 2017 (the Bill) and contribute to the Senate Committee’s inquiry.
The Parenthood considers this inquiry a chance to demonstrate to Senators once again, and to the Parliament more broadly, the devastating consequences of this legislation if it’s passed.
The Parenthood is Australia’s leading parent advocacy and campaigning organisation with more than 58,000 parent members across Australia. We seek to ensure that the voices of parents, especially those who will be directly affected by the current proposed changes, are heard.
That is why we have once again asked parents to join us by becoming signatories to our submission as they did with our previous submission to the committee. You will see their details at the end of this submission.
THE PARENTHOOD STRONGLY ADVISES COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOT TO SUPPORT THIS BILL AND TO REQUIRE THAT CHILD CARE REFORM BE SEPARATED FROM WELFARE CUTS AND DEBATED ON ITS OWN MERITS.
While there is a pressing need for child care reform and relief for families from the ever- increasing burden child care places on their budgets, parents do not want this relief paid for by those least able to afford it.
We urge Senators not to support the multiple cuts presented in the Bill. The Parenthood has long opposed cuts to Family Tax Benefit (FTB) and Paid Parental Leave (PPL) – these cuts will be the focus of this submission.
375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Please refer to Appendix A for a summary of our previous submission regarding the government’s childcare reform legislation. We recommend Senator’s support most of the key elements of the reform package but seek its immediate separation from the Omnibus Bill so it can be debated and implemented (with amendments) as quickly as possible
The Parenthood also wishes to share our concern over cuts to Newstart access for young people and the cuts to energy supplements for pensioners.
Parenthood members recognise these cuts will impact the most vulnerable Australian families. These changes will hit the lowest paid the hardest and are simply unfair and wrong.
Parents are well placed to understand the importance of managing budgets. We appreciate the government’s need to explore ways to balance our nation’s budget. However, our spending priorities as parents reflect the importance we place on the things we buy.
For example, parents will go without new shoes to ensure their child has the right uniform, we go without birthday presents to save the money for a school camp – and some parents go without meals to ensure their children don’t go hungry.
Just as we do with our household budgets, we implore the Turnbull Government to get the priorities right. Savings that directly hit the living standards of families who can least afford it, is in our view a very misguided savings priority.
We have written many submissions with facts and figures – the evidence that supports our viewpoint. You can ask the Committee Secretary for copies. However, the government keeps introducing the same Bill, with the same divisive cuts, so we’re not entirely sure the facts and figures matter in this context.
We believe the Senate needs to hear from the people who would feel the pain of these cuts. Those parents whose lives will be changed and made more difficult.
These are not an abstract ‘thousands of parents’ – these are real Australians with real families whose family budgets should not be used to repair the national budget. Don’t just take our word for it – below are parents in their own words.
375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Kirsty from Campbelltown in South Australia is a single parent to a 14-year-old boy. Her son attends a selective high school and after his father passed away, Kirsty uses the FTB supplement to pay her electricity bill. She suffers from seizures and is concerned that she won’t be able to keep her son in his school. She has made sacrifices and cut her budget to bare bones after cuts to her benefits but she has no idea how she can make this one work.
Kellie from Mildura in Victoria: I am a single mother of 1, living in public housing. I DID NOT chose to be the first or wish to rely on the second, I am also on DSP which I also did not wish for. Unfortunately, circumstances have put me in this position. I am trying to better my daughter’s life and also trying to improve mine as I work toward lessening my burden on the tax payers of Australia of which I was one of from the age of 15. I and everyone else rely on the FTB EOFY Supplement as a means to catch up on bills, buy extra nonperishable foodstuffs, clothing for our child/ren who are growing up way too fast, also keeping up with school expenses ETC...... Please do not take that away from us as well. Despite what everyone thinks we are not bludgers, some of us are trying VERY hard to get out of this hole, but it is not easy when everyday living expenses cost a lot more than we get from Centrelink. We are always in debt or so far behind in payments we cannot pick ourselves up from the gutter the Government has put us in by giving us payments that are way below the poverty line. I for one am sick of being labelled something I'm not, and sick of getting nowhere
Simmone lives in South Australia: “I have two children to support financially. I am a single parent - the kids are 13 and 16. We have no support financially from their father – he has a child support debt of $49,000.00. Family Tax Benefits help a lot. The supplement payments of $729.00 per child and $350.00 per family in July really helps buy necessary essentials for my children, such as winter jumpers, jackets, and socks and update tech for educational needs at school. Fix things that have broken, new shoes for sports pay bill that have amounted through year and have some nice foods instead of home brand all the time.
Laura lives in Ipswich, Queensland: Our family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A it and these cuts will mean that we’re around $200-a-year-per-child worse off. We have three children. $600 in a year might not mean much to a politician on $200,000+ but it means a lot to us. We chose for me to stay home to look after our children because our second son has autism and needs a lot of support. My work with him saves the taxpayer in the long run because early intervention means he’ll need less support during the school years. And I’m rewarded with a pay cut? I’m worth so much more than the FTB I get now, don’t punish me because I’m poor. Poverty is simply a lack of money, not a character flaw.
375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Barbara from Tasmania: I had planned to use the government funded 18 weeks PPL and an additional 8 weeks PPL from my employer to give me 6.5 months to spend with my newborn. I may be able to extend my time using annual & long service leave entitlements.
If these PPL changes were to take place I would only be able to take 4.5 months off with my newborn. This will impact not only the amount of quality time with my newborn, my ability to breastfeed bub past 4.5 months, I would also have additional stresses placed on my family including finding suitable childcare.
I don't think the impact of this change is understood by our government and the stress which will be caused by pushing parents back into work faster, not to mention what our children will miss out on.
Rebecca from Melbourne in Victoria: I am a degree-qualified kindergarten teacher and I am currently on parental leave with my first child, who is 4 months old. I am very concerned about the government's proposed cuts to paid parental leave.
Having worked in early childhood education and care for 14 years, I have seen first-hand the impact of returning to work too soon for the parents of newborn children. I have seen how mothers do not have the time necessary to physically and emotionally heal from the process of carrying a child for 9 months and then giving birth to them. I have seen, sadly, how this can escalate into post-natal depression as mothers are forced back to work far sooner than they are ready to, and I have seen the devastating impacts this can have on mothers, on their partners and on their small children.
From a logistical point of view, it is difficult to access early childhood services with a small baby- many long day care providers will not enrol children less than 3 months old, yet many parents are needing care for their babies at a younger age than this because they simply cannot afford to stay at home any longer and may not have the support of family or friends to assist them. The answer most certainly is not to enrol younger children in long day care services, it's to improve the paid parental leave offered to the families of newborns. (continued over page)
375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Rebecca continued: Cuts to paid parental leave means that everyone loses.
The children lose out on important time they should be spending with their family. The parents lose out on important time they should be spending bonding with their child. The mothers lose out on important time they need to allow their bodies to heal from giving birth. And workplaces lose out because the parents returning to work would much rather be at home, nurturing their young babies.
Like I mentioned, I'm a parent of a small baby. I want to spend as much time as possible with my newborn without worrying about financial strains and being forced back to work earlier than my body or my baby are ready for. My baby is 18 weeks old this week. I had access to 14 weeks of paid leave from my employer and 18 weeks paid leave from the government. I am not a “double dipper”, I am just fortunate to work in a profession with strong commitments to looking after the welfare of parents.
When my baby was born, I had an emergency c-section. I had mastitis and extreme difficulty establishing breastfeeding. My baby needed surgery when he was a few weeks old. I have ongoing medical issues resulting from the birth which will take a significant operation and time to heal from. This is a difficult situation which is still taking a large emotional toll on my mental wellbeing. However, this is not an unusual situation and I feel would be common to many new parents.
The proposed cuts to paid parental leave are going to affect nurses, teachers, ambos and cashiers at supermarkets. These are not people in well-paid jobs. These are people already possibly struggling to meet their financial needs and may not have large savings accounts to fall back onto if these cuts to paid parental leave are passed. Nurses, teachers and ambos are notoriously underpaid for the value of the work they contribute to society. Everyone in Australia benefits from the caring work of people in these occupations, so proposing cuts that will affect their time to be able to care for their own babies is a cruel irony. I spend every day of my working life caring for, nurturing and teaching young children as well as providing support and advice for their families. It is desperately unfair that the government is trying to prevent me from doing the same thing for my own baby.
Experts recommend that mothers and babies need at least 26 weeks together for their health and wellbeing. If the government wants the very best for the next generation of children (and the current generation of parents) then paid parental leave must improve, not become worse. Christian Porter wants to make paid parental leave “fairer” by stripping the best conditions away. To make it “fairer”, the conditions should be improved for everyone.
375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The Parenthood again thanks Senate Committee members for the opportunity to provide input and feedback to contribute to your review of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Omnibus Savings and Child Care Reform) Bill 2017.
THE PARENTHOOD REJECTS THE GOVERNMENT’S CUTS TO AUSTRALIA’S FAMILY TAX BENEFITS, REJECT THE GOVERNMENT’S CUTS TO PAID PARENTAL LEAVE AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY REJECTS THE GOVERNMENT’S RELENTLESS ATTACK ON PARENTS (PARTICULARLY MOTHERS) AND THEIR CHILDREN.
Child Care Reform is long-awaited and necessary. Delaying it further affects parents, their children and the sector more broadly. If we want to increase workforce participation, this reform must be debated separately and as a matter of urgency.
We urge Committee members to listen to the parents of Australia. The powerful stories above are such a small sample of the stories that Parenthood members have told us. We especially urge Committee members to hear those sole parent families, struggling to give their kids the best they can and who simply cannot afford any more cuts to their incomes.
This Bill, if passed in its current form will have devastating consequences for thousands of Australian families. The Parenthood urges you to reject this Bill and recommend to the government that they separate Child Care Reform from proposed savings. We also urge that you recommend they seek budget savings elsewhere – not by asking those who can least afford it pay for it.
We should not be expecting family budgets to repair the national budget.
Kind regards,
Nicole Lessio Principal Campaign Manager The Parenthood
375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
SIGNATORIES TO THE SUBMISSION (884 INDIVIDUALS)
Name State Australian Capital Territory Alice Nancarrow ACT Kelly Small ACT Jennifer Bradley ACT Laurajane smith ACT Miriam Carter ACT Jordan Scarr ACT Maureen McInerney ACT Alex Mcintyre ACT Stefanie Pan ACT Eric Karson ACT Shannon Ashley ACT Rosemary Blemings ACT Alice Duggan ACT Sara London ACT Sean West Money ACT Amanda Spence ACT Joanne Rankin ACT Kate Ritchings ACT Julie Biddington ACT Patrick Troy ACT Hannah Arnold ACT Jennifer Brian ACT Luke Evans ACT Shannon Waters ACT Skye Reeve ACT Jacqui Courtney ACT Kristy Carey ACT Agnes Ianson ACT Karina Dunn ACT Jane McRoberts ACT David Carr ACT Todd Schild ACT Sonja Davie ACT New South Wales Mina Bui Jones NSW Larry Desmond NSW Nicole Jones NSW Jennifer Hannan NSW Tash Hebbard NSW Marg Russell NSW 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Douglas Prowse NSW Sally Tonkin NSW Dana Potter NSW Jeanette McDonald NSW Melissa Ellmore NSW Darian Zam NSW Amanda Gogarty NSW Jessica Hill NSW Alex Stewart NSW Julie Uate NSW Kerstin Bueno de Mesquita NSW Michelle Gibbs NSW Lorraine Yudaeff NSW Sophie Dell NSW Patrick O'Rourke NSW Janna Cheab NSW Donna Berry NSW Amy Brockway NSW Kristina Kepars NSW Ivana Baldwin NSW Kevin McDonnell NSW Liz McManus NSW Mary Bourke NSW Margaret Rath NSW Rebecca Sheldon NSW Peter Fischer NSW Rachel Green NSW April Allen NSW Hayley Dettorre NSW Daniela Vukov NSW Johanna O'Leary NSW Rosemary Parsons NSW Amy Lillo NSW Sarah Phillips NSW Marissa Di Lorenzo NSW Chris Cividino NSW Lee Wilson NSW Mandy Spacek NSW Anna Mark NSW Stacey Kopf NSW Cindy Dickson NSW Colleen Lum NSW Marcille Cameron NSW Sue Tronser NSW 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
M Bartlett NSW Katrina Paterson NSW Don Bowen NSW Lien Vong NSW Corrin Vaux NSW Melanie Herbert NSW Diem Nguyen NSW Stephen Poolman NSW Trish Cann NSW Belinda White NSW Jane Sage NSW Sarah Dignam NSW Marni Jackson NSW Kylie Harris NSW Ellen Curtis NSW Claire Wilson NSW Lucy Kelleher NSW Francine Owen NSW Lauren Cerniauskas NSW Michelle Egan NSW Jenny Netting NSW Kerrie Jess NSW Adam Kery NSW Kylie Abbey NSW Jess Farrugia NSW Jade Peters NSW Rhiannon Lowe NSW Zea Buckley NSW Jen Cramond NSW Lisa Svensson NSW Jessica Henderson NSW Yvonne Wiggins NSW Amy Sultana NSW Jenna Beck NSW Sharon Ogilvie NSW Chris Russell NSW Ron Barnes NSW Kimberly Tier NSW Katie Daley NSW Sylvia Kendall NSW Sandra Lopez NSW Renata Lucas NSW Lynnette Archer NSW John Warner NSW 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Claire Morrissey NSW Alan Outhred NSW Jocelyn Lambert NSW Tanya Martin NSW Denise Thompson NSW Alexandra Nahlous NSW Sydoni Smith NSW Amanda New NSW Florence Howarth NSW Henk Raanhuis NSW Regina Eberle Riedl NSW John O'Shaughnessy NSW Phillip Monk NSW Michael Want NSW Tanita Hottes NSW Sylvi Anna Glasheen NSW Clare Ryan NSW Cass Thompson NSW Sarah Lalor NSW Debbie Lawler NSW Dr Nerida Riley NSW Olivia Shimeld NSW Faye Lake NSW Rebecca Green NSW Toni Campbell NSW Carlie Smith NSW Revelly Robinson NSW Bob Morgan NSW Megan Callander NSW Judith Gonsalves NSW Michael Morrissey NSW Laurel Ginges NSW Tanja Angjelkoski NSW Mary Hawkins NSW Ina Eremeev NSW Elena Yurovskaya NSW Mellany Phothirath NSW James Cassidy NSW Tracey Rossen NSW Nicole Porter NSW Rebecca Sullivan-Chivell NSW Barry O Brien NSW Mark Hanlon NSW Joe White NSW 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Jan Girdler NSW Margaret Gleeson NSW Jodi Blanchfield NSW Verna Lane NSW Marisa Russell NSW Laura Anggadi NSW George Winston NSW Richard Kinloch NSW Gayle Bull NSW Amy Birrell NSW Rebecca Coyle NSW Anna Probets NSW Bonnie Redman NSW Ingrid Cattley NSW Dale Shackleton NSW Michelle Blake NSW Lesa King NSW Nadia Messaoudine NSW Mary Fouskarinis NSW Cara Murphy NSW Monica Gyoery NSW Emily Prentice NSW Wendy Woolfrey NSW Stephen Johnson NSW Sarah Sampson NSW Allan Bell NSW Rachael Jess NSW R Kennedy NSW Kerryn Woo NSW Roger Graham NSW Norbert Mjadwesch NSW Diane Davies NSW Shanna Robinson NSW Joy Heads OAM NSW Nikki Shelley NSW Jodie Donnelly NSW Zoe Roxon-Hunter NSW Aylin Salt NSW Julia Carroll NSW Kirbie Sloan NSW Kara Condon NSW Pricilla Makea NSW Man Ting Lai NSW Celeste Pullen NSW 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Sue Mccarthy NSW Stefan Tober NSW Suellen Hamilton NSW Paul Crittenden NSW Trond Hjelmaas NSW Esther Bird NSW Supawan Nantanapornchai NSW Glenda Van Den Berg NSW Ben Weinberg NSW Donna Bovis NSW Glen Crump NSW Natalie G NSW Karen Cheng NSW Cecil Grivas NSW Sadhbh Warren NSW Nicole Hart NSW Emma Gentle NSW Anne Szacsvay NSW Katrina Rollason NSW Jodie Barnes NSW Fiona Ninnes NSW KSandra Richardson NSW Neil McClean NSW Alison Wedgwood NSW Elena Andersen NSW Harold Hodson NSW Katie Manton NSW Di Webb NSW David Paul NSW Mary Okell NSW Helmut Neubauer NSW Katrina Clarke NSW Simon Leadbeater NSW Michelle Tarr NSW Tom Korevaar NSW Jennifer Brockett NSW Janice Chu NSW Melind Holmes NSW Gerda Mjadwesch NSW Cathy Jensen NSW John Morganlowe NSW Kane Lunn NSW Latif Mgribi NSW Ashleigh Trotter NSW 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Jess Bell NSW Geoff Harcourt NSW Nicole Poole NSW Amber Cubis NSW Ben Waugh NSW Taryn Butler NSW James Stuart NSW Suzette Hanlon NSW Michaela Moreland NSW Genevieve Ellett NSW Kate Morgan NSW Taren Stuart NSW Jessica Bourner NSW Elissa Klinkenberg NSW Philip Hewett NSW Jared Eather NSW Sara Takegami NSW Catherine Dickie NSW Denise Buiten King NSW Annette Bugni-Boughton NSW Kim Phillips NSW Barbora Gallagher NSW Kim Giveen NSW Sheree Fitzpatrick NSW Chrissy Bliss NSW Jennifer Purssell NSW Lauren Valentine NSW Heather Handley NSW Laurie Redman NSW Kathleen McDowell NSW Garry Starkey NSW John McShane NSW Claire Fellows NSW Ria Hietala NSW Fiona McKenzie NSW Northern Territory Jessica Wells NT Judy Buckley NT Louise Cooke NT Dineli Ranasinghe NT Queensland Elspeth Innes QLD John Holmes QLD Renee Ianna QLD 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Donna Barratt QLD Paula Fordham QLD Gerald Houska QLD Kristin Ryan QLD Elizabeth Weir QLD Kendra Todd QLD Katrina Cunningham QLD Loretta Donnelly QLD Renae Hutton QLD Ammie Starvis QLD Louise Flannery QLD Belinda Prasad QLD Bethany Baxter QLD Sharon Jones QLD Shelley Williams QLD Amber Sullivan QLD Rebecca Pearce QLD Daniel Laws QLD Amy Mason QLD Sandra Humphreys QLD Walter Simpson QLD Natelle Archer QLD Michael Kolmet QLD Christine Lewis QLD Anne Toye QLD Lisa Easton QLD Bob Madden QLD Paul Lobodin QLD Keryn-Leigh Edmistone QLD Janice Gordon QLD Dominique Scott QLD Matt McDonald QLD Susan Burchill QLD Tegan Johnson QLD John O'Callaghan QLD Robyn Pomare QLD Daniel Black QLD Rod McFerren QLD Molly Chandler QLD Anna Shanahan QLD Kim Walters QLD Mary Rose Abbott QLD Taya Nielsen QLD Kristen Plath QLD 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Diana Velez Velez QLD Jill Guy QLD Chezza GArcia QLD Melanie Chandler QLD Ralph Cobcroft QLD August Jones QLD John Rodgers QLD Heather Pitkeathly QLD Megan Carson QLD Oliver Stodolak QLD Fiona Sharpe QLD Marg Evans QLD David Bancroft QLD Marianna Reid QLD Karen Grieve QLD Mette Radke QLD Ashley Wilson QLD Marney Ralph QLD Jade Knight QLD Crystal Lapointe QLD Carly Thomas QLD Richard Litster QLD Anne Scott QLD Anna Tran QLD Dominique Edwards QLD Zlatan Prusac QLD Cherrie Ho QLD Megan Heiniger QLD Erin Strohfeldt QLD Emily Nixon QLD Ryan Taylor QLD Dayna Dapas QLD Renee Corney QLD Carly Willoughby-Rolls QLD Amy Dolling QLD Roz Smith QLD Tamara Pearce QLD Lynne Smith QLD Kristen Jensen QLD Rachelle Wyeth QLD Sharon Parfitt QLD Jenny Knight QLD Kimberly Wright QLD Cherie Nielsen QLD 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Emma Whyte QLD Belinda Barnett QLD Rebecca Smith QLD Az Lyon QLD Kirsty Crase QLD Les Parker QLD Kaili Brown QLD Teresa Martin QLD Nadine Jorgensen QLD Barbara Pattinson QLD Abbey Kennedy QLD Michelle Hoy QLD Anne Lanham QLD Erika Hennessy QLD Emily Hooper QLD Helen Walker QLD Jasmin Graham QLD Cathy Lockhart QLD Juliana Virine QLD Cathy Crimmins QLD Louisa Tyrrell QLD Troy Cranefield QLD Ramon Rosales QLD Eve Gibson QLD Alex Hoffman QLD Jennifer Hallinon QLD Pauline O'Brien QLD Natalie Van Zyl QLD Theresa Martin QLD Evelyn Jones QLD Frank Sykes QLD Felicity Lose QLD A Voss QLD Nikia Renton QLD Wendy Coman QLD Peter Butler QLD Adrian Cooke QLD Jenna Bowen QLD Giovanna Lonzar QLD Lesz Sztama QLD Lynette Adams QLD Melissa Venville QLD Brooke Dunleavy QLD Alexandra Martin QLD 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Robert Cunningham QLD Nicola Dennett QLD Natalie Martin-Booker QLD Kerrie Harth QLD Pauline Spackman QLD David Beasley QLD Christine Cann QLD Bridget Whitcher QLD Matthew Whitingbird QLD James McGregor QLD Sally Schmidt QLD Pauline Ashford QLD Geoffrey O'Donoghue QLD Sam Salimi QLD Meaghan O'Neill QLD Megan Denny QLD John Alexander QLD Candice Polwhele QLD Amy Gale QLD Mandy Cilento QLD Shannon Brincat QLD Bill Dominguez QLD Susan Prince QLD Sue Toms QLD Meleisha Lill QLD Anna Welch QLD Robert Brown QLD Trevor Hampson QLD Rajveer Kaur QLD Rojean Valdellon QLD Graham Allen QLD Adriano Regano QLD Gary Allen QLD Paul Roder QLD Mary Crawford QLD Lee McLennan QLD Cheree Holland QLD Albert Davies QLD Kamala Roberts QLD Carlee Daniels QLD Ellen Desmarchelier QLD Robin Ford QLD Imogen Prove QLD Adam Harm QLD 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Kylie Hancock QLD Joann Herron QLD Natarsha Burgess QLD Chris Keong QLD Gaele Maat QLD Peta Clarkson QLD Maui Bennett QLD David Bancroft QLD Darrel Poulier QLD Shandyn Lameree QLD Mitch Haggman QLD Penny Spalding QLD Nicola McCabe QLD Jillian Ives QLD Mandy Ross QLD Kirsty Joyce QLD Christine Riches QLD Helen Burkins QLD Karin Ma QLD Polly Richardson QLD James Osborne QLD Rachelle Wilton QLD Anthony Ruggiero QLD Tara Maynard QLD South Australia Tamara Jackett SA Angelina Martin SA Sam N SA John Petteford SA Alicia Harris SA Sue Pettman SA Cathy Ehlers SA Lana Mrozowski SA Rischelle Siviour SA Belinda Russell SA Thanasis Avramis SA Sophie Taylor SA Aleksandra Djuric SA Jessica Stearnes SA Cindy Arthur SA Kelly Pearsons SA Bob Felby SA Rachel Gloria SA Peter Day SA 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Narelle Kikkert SA Aida Stabile SA Philip Jones SA Eloise Hoile SA Lisa Luyten SA Sarah Cleggett SA Luke Manuel SA Richard Robinson SA Rick Breumelhof SA Liz Harris SA Rachel Jarosz SA Tiffany Ahlers SA Richard Wilson SA Belinda Bowden SA Lisa Muldoon SA Michelle Howell SA Janet Martin SA Tabatha Mosch SA Deb Honan SA Michelle Beecham SA Brenton Hordacre SA Ryan Carr SA Tanya Little SA Beata Szinyi SA Jodie Grigg SA Lesley Cockram SA Jess Brumfield SA Kym Mercer SA Catherine Markos SA Burwell Dodd SA Renae Jordan SA Chelsea Phillips SA Stan Matthews SA Larissa Lumsden SA Skye Launer SA Kristie Lahiff SA Merridy McNaughton SA Sally Anderson SA Janeen Strange SA Alice Fallon SA Joanne Hanssen SA Erin Sewell SA Sonia Gallasch SA Janette Papani SA 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Karen Ide SA Donna Busuttil SA Ruth Byrnes SA Christine Mcilwraith SA Sharna Hoffman SA Leo Potts SA Joy Bandtock SA Dimitra Couis SA P Champion SA Lynda Tout-Smith SA Erin Muirhead SA Fun Meeuws SA Jesia Berry SA Liz Mangan SA Tasmania Jane Clarke TAS Reannah Douglas TAS Kristin George TAS Sonia Hills TAS Lisa Gillard TAS Sarah Jones TAS Emily Willie TAS Sarah Findlay TAS Barry Dickson TAS Jeanne Boyett TAS Pip Glover TAS Stephanie Nuttall TAS Dagny van Hulssen TAS Justine Kirkpatrick TAS John Moss TAS Jessica Ross TAS Alexis Hargrave TAS Jo Abrahams TAS Max Nicholls TAS Angela Conley TAS Nicholas Scott-Mills TAS Victoria Aryanna Lock VIC Krasi Kirova VIC Joanne O'Sullivan VIC Amy Fitzgerald VIC Colin Newbury VIC Maggie Griffin VIC Hayley Harkin VIC 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Louise Miller VIC Cristy Newell VIC Craig Cavanagh VIC Rebecca Wild VIC Nicholas Corrie VIC Terry Fairweather VIC Jodie Finnigan VIC Jana Isaza-Smith VIC Lauren Brown VIC Sarah Wilmot VIC Tyra Rees VIC Fiona Toogood VIC Alana Dear VIC Amy Wishart VIC Walter Hueneke VIC Rosie Mizza VIC Danni C VIC Sara Fratti VIC Claire Delaney VIC Fiona Nevin VIC John Cary VIC Charlotte Wyatt VIC Megan Merrett VIC Melissa Farrell VIC Jen Currie VIC Andrea Patton VIC Sharon Phillips VIC Lynn Reggars VIC Claire Marshall VIC Angelina Petrie VIC Jo-Anne Pereira Reggio VIC Kelly Manning VIC Samantha Busuttil VIC Cassandra Hasenbos VIC Alison Stubbs VIC Jeremy Rosen VIC Don Thomson VIC Toni Bartlett VIC Heather Hawkins VIC Duncan Mackay VIC Laura Goss VIC Caroline Langer VIC Barbara Brozic VIC Undine Rinkel VIC 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Penny Chalke VIC Magdaline Pothitos VIC Jane Crisp VIC Martel Menz VIC Hannah Elborough VIC Chris Barker VIC Vicky Fry VIC Laurie Ryan VIC Monica Gilbert VIC Sarah Anderson VIC Bianca Nelson Vatnsdal VIC Maria Gillies VIC Chandi Mayadunne VIC Anne Lukis VIC Kerry Arch VIC Phoebe Bond VIC Brenda Kamsek VIC Tessa Hemming VIC Sarah Parker VIC Nadia Train VIC Melanie Velden VIC Jennifer Meyer-Smith VIC Naomi Waters VIC Edith Vaz VIC Ron Woods VIC Sarah Wallis VIC Melissa Cassetta VIC Eva Pacek VIC Clare Jelley VIC Danielle Tang VIC Marlene Oates VIC Kristy Hammond VIC Rebecca Drake VIC Helen Johnson VIC Lisa Darmanin VIC Breanna Bookham VIC Anthony Felettigh VIC Ame Christiansen VIC Greg Stevens VIC Catherine Denton VIC Diane Wilshaw VIC Seher Topal VIC Susanne Kennedy VIC Adelina Ogelsby VIC 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Loraine Rafols VIC Julianne Commerford VIC Ian Ellis VIC Brooke Gribble VIC Lidia Pawel VIC Dominique Olver VIC Mark Taylor VIC Sally Epworth VIC Kelly Wilson VIC Emma Oliver VIC Nelusha Fleet VIC Kristy Jones VIC Naomi Honeychurch VIC Kirby Ireland VIC Anthony Barker VIC Rachael Read VIC Nadia Shoghi VIC Jessica Deane VIC Helen Lescesen VIC Jim Entesari VIC Al Chung VIC Mahala Ebery VIC Garryck Osborne VIC Jaklyn Holmes VIC Alexandra Ricard VIC Elisabeth Carman VIC Georgia Burke VIC Eva van der Vlies VIC Kathryn Dizon VIC Eleina Tava VIC Sandra Searle VIC John Buckley VIC Nerida Goodwin VIC Rejoice Phiri VIC Liz Branigan VIC John Groppi VIC Shirley Ching VIC Sue Lafferty VIC Sylvi Shayl VIC Sharon Tatti VIC Jo Adams VIC Errol Firminger VIC Adrienne Lawrence VIC David Shaw VIC 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Emily Minopoulos VIC Nicole Wright VIC Wendy McCarry VIC Christine Prosser VIC Robert Blair-West VIC Laura Kus VIC Olivia Noto VIC Eleisha Mullane VIC Gillian Humphries VIC Ray Yee VIC Brieanna Valentine VIC AnneMarie Juda VIC Marnie Zolli VIC Jennifer Harris VIC Andrew Creek VIC Steven Ross VIC Caitlyn Arena VIC Kara Stocks VIC Paula Kelly VIC Tegrin Christie VIC Brooke Shelton VIC Angelo Dritsas VIC Josie Lennue VIC Greg Gange VIC Louise Cramsie VIC Michelle Tsiros VIC Marisa Stephens VIC Biljana Oroz VIC Gary Blisner VIC Elena Brooks VIC Helen Johansen VIC Helen Fraser VIC janine Guingan VIC Catherine Bach VIC Western Australia Michelle Harrison WA Ellen Bailey WA Antony Hughes-d'Aeth WA Michelle lawrence WA Amy Jarvie WA Vania Fontoura WA Bev Sunkar WA Joanne Walsh WA Emma Chuck WA 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Tom W WA Paulino Sanchez WA David Markovich WA Kyla Smith WA Connie Milana WA Kiril Petrov WA Fiona Burrows WA Rachel Morrow WA Katherine Fernandes WA Geoffrey Davis WA Sharon McCormack WA Rochelle Ruse WA Carolyn Cavana WA Tracey Hetier WA Lisa Annall WA Rebecca Garrad WA Claire Mulcahy WA Micheal Gasmire WA Katherine Wallace WA Rebekah McAuliffe WA Kaye Cook WA Katie Browning WA Tania Triffitt WA naomi darcy WA tim heckler WA Catherine Hughes WA Rod Teale WA Tony Hughes WA Careen Hall WA Kirsty de Blanken WA Alessandra Augimeri WA Janelle Mort WA Brian Jesse Fleay WA Shannon Walsh WA Jasmine Hart WA Afshin Karimi WA Will Pascoe WA Donald Yates WA Nic Hastings-James WA Melissa Portolan WA Ted Donnelly WA Diane Tan WA Allan Summers WA Dora Accouche WA 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
Sandra Martin WA No state given Graeme Gerrard Lucy Jenkin Vanessa Arden-Wood Tina Clayton Shannyn Scotney-Bourne Alessia Willis Jill Lyall Robyn Stevenson Bridgette Di Ferdinando Domenika Theissen Laura Ross Liss Kamp Helen Fisher Kate Ceramidas Ramona Valdellon Danielle Crawford Judy Jackson Emily Watson Allwynne Hume Bob Penfold James Cruz Melissa Armstrong Charo Paynter Zahra Abdi Megan Costello Eveline Tindale Debbie Wiseman Julia Hanna Nicole Scanes Deborah Fulton-Smith Marina Tseng Robyn Wells Cassandre Khoury Veneta MacLeod Kimberly Robertson Emma Thornton Kimberley Pottinger Peter Hunt Christopher Burrell Megan Stoddart Tara Jarvis Jo Dixon 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
John Heathers Toni Collins
375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
APPENDIX A
THE PARENTHOOD’S RESPONSE TO “JOBS FOR FAMILIES” CHILDCARE REFORM PACKAGE – A SUMMARY WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS
1. THE PARENTHOOD FUNDAMENTALLY REJECTS THE GOVERNMENT’S ASSERTION THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PAY FOR EARLY LEARNING REFORM IS BY MAKING SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO FAMILY PAYMENTS AND OTHER SOCIAL WELFARE MEASURES.
The Parenthood is seeking to put an end to the government’s budgetary decision that ties the additional $3.2 billion required to fund childcare reform to the passing of $4.8 billion worth of cuts to the Family Tax Benefit payment system.
The Parenthood argues that when you combine both the savings that the government has already secured within the current childcare budget, coupled with the savings in lower than expected projected increase in childcare fees and use, with the FTB saving measures that have had Opposition support, the government currently has more than enough to fully fund their childcare reforms. Accordingly, they do not need to proceed with the full suite of FTB cuts or the further sweep of social welfare cuts included in the Omnibus Bill – including cuts to paid parental leave, Newstart allowance and the age pension
Table 1. provides a summary of the savings already secured alongside the cost of the childcare reform package in its first year.
Table 1. Cost for 2018-19 Cost of new Childcare Subsidy $1.300m
Government Savings So Far - Family day care child swapping savings -$473m - New childcare compliance measures -$27m - Cut FTB B for children >13yrs couples only -$179m - No Jab No Pay childcare/FTB compliance -$138m - Freeze FTB A higher income for 2 yrs -$74.0m - Abolish FTB A large family supplement s -$60m - Tighten FTB treatment of fringe benefits -$42m - Not proceed with FTB B increase for 0-1 yr olds -$123m - Cut FTB A supplements on incomes above $80k -$560m TOTAL SAVINGS $1.676m
So in the first year of the new childcare subsidy the savings which have already been secured are enough to fund the new subsidy with $300 million extra savings.
The Government will also benefit from lower than forecast increases in childcare fees, as the new subsidy will be paid as a percentage of a capped fee and not the full fee a centre charges. While the package was cast eighteen months ago on an expectation of childcare fees
375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected] increasing by 6-7% a year1, childcare fees are rising at a much slower pace closer to 5 per cent a year given tougher market conditions.2 By 2018-19, the cumulative effect of 1-2% lower childcare fee growth could reduce childcare subsidy outlays by 4-8% or around $400-800 million a year.
2. THE PARENTHOOD IS LARGELY SUPPORTIVE OF MOST ASPECTS OF THE REFORM PACKAGE AND REQUESTS THE LEGISLATION TO BE DEBATED IN THE PARLIAMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
While The Parenthood has some serious concerns with the current “Jobs for Families” legislation, The Parenthood and thousands of parents welcome the significant investment and restructure of the subsidy system. Much of this will translate to thousands of families finding it easier to afford the early learning and care they need for their children and their families
Parents have been waiting years to see the government’s promise of more affordable and accessible early learning and care come to fruition. We urge Senator’s to recommend that the childcare legislation be separated and debated on its own as quickly as possible.
3. THE PARENTHOOD WANTS TO KEEP A KEEN FOCUS ON THE BENEFITS OF EARLY LEARNING AND THAT THIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL CHILDREN, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THEIR PARENTS DO OR EARN.
The Parenthood is seeking to ensure we do not shut children out of early learning and care, that we have an early learning and care system that recognises the value of early learning as a benefit to children as well as a means and an incentive that allows parents, in particular mothers to work.
4. CONCERNS WITH THE NEW STRICT ACTIVITY TEST
This legislation attempts to more closely align government subsidised childcare hours with the hours parents need them for work related purposes. If both parents have stable, predictable jobs, this relatively rigid new activity test will not cause much concern for these parents or the early learning their child/ren receives.
However, placing such a stringent workforce participation and income requirement on subsidy eligibility fails to recognise that the cost for the number childcare days you have remains a constant through the course of a year, whereas work activity and income can suddenly and significantly change.
It also fails to recognise that childcare isn’t simply there to be used for when parents are working – it also delivers early learning, the benefits of which cannot be fully realised in less than two full days of participation.
1Response to Senate Community Affairs Estimates Committee Question On Notice SQ15-469 2 Dept of Education admin stats https://docs.education.gov.au/node/41151 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
5. THE PARENTHOOD RECOMMENDS THAT THE LEGISLATION FOR CHILDCARE REFORM BE AMENDED TO:
i. ensure every child, irrespective of parents’ work circumstances receive access to at least two days (24 hours) of subsidised early learning a week. This maintains continuous access to early learning and care for all children, especially those from vulnerable or disadvantaged backgrounds. It also provides certainty for parents who even if they experience a sudden or significant change in their working or earning capacity, know they will always be able to count on access to two full days of subsidised childcare.
We are aware that the sector is currently proposing a compromise of 15 hours of subsidised early learning and care per week. Whilst we argue 24 hours better reflects two full days of early learning, we would welcome 15 hours as better than what is currently proposed, especially if the sector is able to alter their arrangements to ensure 15 hours of subsidised care still delivers two days of early learning for children at no additional out-of-pocket cost to families. Further, we enthusiastically support the sectors call to increase to the household income threshold for the low income entitlement from $65,710 to $100,000.
ii. ensure, that if two days (24 hours) a week of subsidised childcare cannot be guaranteed for all families that: a. transitional arrangements be in place to help minimise the cost burden for families if they suddenly fail to meet eligibility requirements to secure the level of childcare subsidy they depend on. Including, but not limited to, being able to estimate the expected hours worked over a 6 to 8week period; having a 6 to 8week grace period for sudden reduction in work or other circumstances that means one parent does not meet the activity test (e.g. redundancy or illness related) b. the definition for what is considered eligible ‘activity’ be as broad as possible to capture the full variety of paid and unpaid work parents do in and across our communities. Including, but are not limited to, volunteering in schools and childcare centres as well as all forms of paid and unpaid leave.
iii. ensure, that if two days (24 hours) a week of subsidised childcare cannot be guaranteed for ALL families: a. That the safety net / low-income result provisions guarantee 24 hours (two full days) a week for a full financial year for children from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds and families on incomes less than $100,000.
iv. keep a base subsidy level of 50 per cent in line with what was originally announced in the May 2015 Federal Budget. This will help to keep the costs of childcare an incentive for women, of all professions and income levels to return and remain in work, furthering their careers and contribution to our community. 375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]
v. ensure there is an effective restrain on increasing fees. The legislation places a cap on the amount the government will subsidise not the amount centres can charge. Accordingly, there is concern parents, especially for those accessing early learning from high charging centres, will continue to see their out-of-pocket costs grow as the gap between what centres charge and what the government subsidises widens over time.
375 Wickham Tce Spring Hill Q 4000 Principal Campaign Manager Nicole Lessio M. 0416 263 239: E. [email protected]