Maxine must come out of hiding and outline the Government's ABC Learning Plan

06-November-2008

“The demise of ABC Learning today, the largest childcare provider in the country, is a devastating blow to thousands of parents, the 100,000 children who attend ABC Centres and the 12,000 employees of the company who make up a quarter of the country’s childcare workforce,” Sophie Mirabella, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare, Women and Youth said today.

The Government has known for some time that ABC Learning’s future has been in question and yet Ms McKew has not provided any plan to parents in the event of a collapse. I have called on the Minister for Education and the Parliamentary Secretary for Childcare numerous times now to provide the details of the Government’s so-called “contingency plan” but no information has been forthcoming to parents.

“If there ever was a “contingency plan” now is the time for the Parliamentary Secretary for Childcare Maxine McKew – who constantly talks about the Rudd Government’s ambitious agenda – to come out of hiding and reveal the Government’s plan otherwise we can rightly assume that none has ever existed. Please tell the affected parents what the Government will do in the event of any centre closures and will they join the bottom of a long list of creditors if they have pre-paid fees?”

“The Government was happy to bail out the banks in a time of crisis but when it comes to welfare of 100,000 children it has been sadly silent,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Instead of just watching the crisis unfold, the Government needs to guarantee parents that they will act to put in place arrangements during a transitionary period. This re-assurance is vital for parents and the Rudd Government must realise this.”

“We have heard from the Government during Senate Estimates hearings a few weeks ago that they have a been cobbling together a plan, yet the Government contingency plans have not been made public for the many working mums and dads around the country who will tonight be wondering about the future childcare arrangements for their children.” Mrs Mirabella said.

“There has been a financial cloud over ABC Learning for some time. It is fair to say the Government has had time on its side to develop a plan and a strategy to deal with a crisis such as ABC Learning’s collapse. Maxine McKew must come out of hiding and reassure working parents around the country what plan the Rudd Government has in place for the care of their children.”

“What we have here is a dire situation where 100,000 children have no certainty in relation to their child care arrangements and that deserves the Rudd Government’s urgent attention. My office has been constantly inundated with calls from concerned working parents around the country about this major issue. It is time for Maxine McKew and the government to finally show leadership and outline their plan for working parents impacted by the devastating news of this looming disaster,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.