Statement on Wahgunyah and Barnawartha ABC Learning Centres

15-April-2009

Federal Member for Indi and Shadow Minister for Childcare Sophie Mirabella MP has welcomed the belated announcement by the Receiver PPB on the future of the Wahgunyah ABC Learning Centre, but has criticised the Government for leaving Barnawartha parents out in the cold.

“This announcement comes with good and bad news for the North East. Local parents in Wahgunyah and Barnawartha have had a nervous and anxious few months after the Rudd Government left them with no answers and no certainty,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“I am pleased for parents in Wahgunyah that today’s six week delayed announcement sees their local centre remain open with a new operator, however the news for Barnawartha parents isn’t as good.”

“Obviously the ideal outcome, and the scenario I was pushing for as the local member and indeed the Shadow Minister, was that none of the centres would have closed. Whilst, I am pleased with the outcome, there are a lot of people who will lose their jobs around the country and local parents in Barnawartha will be left wondering,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Barnawartha parents have every reason to be very disappointed in Julia Gillard over her mismanagement of this issue. I know that there were expressions of interest from potential operators for the Barnawartha centre. Many individuals and organisations who submitted an expression of interest to acquire an ABC Centre subsequently withdrew because they could not get detailed and accurate information from the Receivers.”

“The Government said they were working hand in glove with the Receivers and should have been on their back to ensure prospective new operators were given as much information as possible,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“I will be writing to the Receivers PPB and asking them to re-negotiate with those who submitted an expression of interest for Barnawartha and the other centres still in doubt.”

“The Labor Government came into office promising a new deal in childcare, a greater availability of childcare services. So far they have not delivered and Australian parents will be judging them on results,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.