Media Release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years, 15 February 2026
Childcare Crisis Hitting Families, Regional Communities, and the Tasmanian Economy
New figures from the Productivity Commission show that under the Liberal Greens Government, Tasmania’s early education and childcare system is failing families and dragging down workforce participation, especially in regional areas.
The latest Report on Government Services data shows that in 2025, just 30 per cent of Tasmanian children were attending childcare. For families on low incomes, that figure falls to just 20.1 per cent.
At the same time, families are facing rising costs. The median cost of childcare in Tasmania is now above the national average, adding to already significant cost-of-living pressures. It’s no surprise that the number of people out of the workforce due to childcare jumped to 61.2 per cent in 2025 – up from 30 per cent the year before.
This is a serious economic issue. Tasmania already has the lowest workforce participation rate in the country and the highest underemployment, and a lack of affordable, accessible childcare is making it even harder for parents – particularly women – to work or increase their hours.
Families shouldn’t be locked out of work because they can’t find or afford childcare, and access shouldn’t depend on your postcode or your income.
Labor sees childcare as essential economic infrastructure. Improving access and affordability is critical to easing cost-of-living pressures, supporting regional communities, and getting more Tasmanians into work.
“Across the Huon, families are telling me they want to work, but they simply can’t find childcare close to home or afford the places that do exist,” Labor candidate for Huon Abby McKibben said.
“When childcare isn’t there, parents are forced to turn down shifts, cut their hours, or leave work altogether – making life even tougher for families while also hurting local businesses. I know some instances where people have had to make the tough decision to leave the Huon altogether because of this and it’s a huge loss for our community.”
“This is a cost-of-living issue and an economic issue for regional Tasmania. Childcare shouldn’t be the thing that stops people from earning a living.”
“As a parent and a small business owner, I know how important childcare is for regional communities like the Huon. If we want our region to thrive, we need services that make it possible for parents to work and raise their children at the same time.”
