COALITION WILL FUND TAKE A BREAK
29-September-2011
As the bickering continues over funding for Take a Break occasional child care funding, Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella MP says the confusion surrounding funding responsibilities is baffling.
Mrs Mirabella says there is no question about the funding responsibilities and has pointed the finger squarely at the Federal Child Care Minister, Kate Ellis.
“The Federal Government has always had a responsibility for Child Care, and that remains the case. Occasional Child Care funding has always been a commonwealth responsibility. It was the Rudd/Gillard Government that pulled the funding.
“Kate Ellis is impotently standing by as funding for her department is being ripped away to pay for Labor’s costly mismanagement. She has not been willing to stand up and fight for funding and now local parents are paying the price.
Mini Gigliotti from Open Door Neighbourhood House said that correspondence from Minister Ellis has been “dismissive and unhelpful”.
“We have written to Kate Ellis seeking advice and support, but her response was simply a standard letter directing us to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations,” Ms Gigliotti said.
“We have pulled out all stops to try and remain in operation, but we won’t survive much longer if the Federal Government doesn’t come to the party.”
Mrs Mirabella said she doesn’t expect the Gillard Government to restore the funding and the only way to ensure its return is the election of a Coalition Government.
“The Coalition’s position couldn’t be clearer. We will restore the funding that has been withdrawn by the Gillard Government and we will ensure that occasional child care has a future in Australia,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.