Improving Early Education and Child Care a priority for the Rudd Government

Former child-care worker, Labor Senator Catryna Bilyk, has welcomed the release of the Senate Education, Employment and Work Place Relations Reference Committee Report into the Provision of Child Care, which was tabled on Monday night.
In speaking to the Report, Senator Bilyk, who is a member of the Committee, stated:
“There must be a focus upon quality of care and an adequate regulatory framework ensuring such quality. Now is the time for us to act on the quality of child care”.
The next four years will see the Rudd Government spend almost $16 billion in child care, and this is $4 billion more than the previous Government.
“By increasing the child care rebate from 30 percent to 50 percent the Rudd Government has made child care more affordable for Australian families, and reduced out of pocket child care costs for parents,” said Senator Bilyk
“We are also investing in child care services for those people living in rural and remote communities, Indigenous families, and those living in low-socio-economic areas.
“Our children are our most important asset and we need to ensure that we have the facilities and care that help provide them with the attention they need to get the best start in life,” said Senator Bilyk.
“The children of today are our future. The Rudd Government is investing heavily in the area of early education and child care. This can only be of benefit to the children of Tasmania.”
The report is available at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/
eet_ctte/child_care/
Senator Catryna Bilyk Labor Senator for Tasmania