Joint Media Release with Minister For Education and Training Senator The Hon Simon Birmingham and Country Liberals Candidate for Lingiari Jacinta Price

More child care support for more families in Lingiari is here with the start of the Turnbull Government’s new child care system.

Country Liberals Senator for the Northern Territory, Nigel Scullion, said the reforms would provide much needed child care relief for local families.

“For too long families in Lingiari have struggled with the cost of child care and a broken system that has restricted their ability to work the hours and days that suit them,” Senator Scullion said.

“Our reforms will mean more subsidies for Lingiari families working the most and for Lingiari families earning the least, scrapping the annual rebate cap for most families as well as an hourly rate cap to keep downward pressure on fees.

Country Liberals Candidate for Lingiari, Jacinta Price, said in Lingiari around 2,203 families are set to benefit.

“Across the Northern Territory, 80 per cent of families will receive more or see no change.

“Many families in Lingiari will be hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year better off under the Turnbull Government’s reforms,” Ms Price said.

Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the reforms would put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Australian families.

“The Turnbull Government’s reforms will inject an extra $2.5 billion into the system and are set to benefit almost one million families nation-wide,” Minister Birmingham said.

“We’re also introducing an activity test to ensure subsidies are targeted to those who depend on child care in order to work, train, study or volunteer, or who are looking for work or want to work additional hours.

“This better reflects the needs of modern Australian families and their desire to base their child care around their work, rather than making their work suit their child care. It’s estimated around 230,000 families will increase their workforce participation.

“These changes are key to the Turnbull Government’s plan for a stronger economy that helps guarantee the essential services that so many families rely on, such as child care and early learning support.

“Our reforms stand in stark contrast to the Labor Party who voted against more child care support for families and who have refused to outline any plans for Australia’s early childhood education and care system.”

If families haven’t made the switch yet, they should visit www.education.gov.au/childcare or update their details on myGov so they can start to benefit from the new system.  Back payments of the new Child Care Subsidy for up to three months are available for families who are yet to make the switch.