Government must reveal EOI process for ABC

15-December-2008

As more questions continue to arise about the future of the 241 ABC Learning Centres deemed “unviable”, the Government has a duty to ensure that the Expression of Interest process is transparent and fair, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Childcare Sophie Mirabella said today.

“The situation seems to be getting murkier and messier by the day. We have industry players coming out daily saying they’re interested in these Centres, we have childcare providers that have already lodged an expression of interest weeks ago that are being ignored, and we have a new court-appointed receiver that intends to start the process over again.”

“The Government keeps claiming to be working closely with the Receivers – but they’ve failed to explain how the Expression of Interest process will be conducted. There are some very vital questions:

• What exactly is the criteria for assessing expressions of interest?
  
   
• Is it solely on the basis of maximising the financial position of creditors, or will applications be assessed on the basis of local delivery of quality services?
  
   
• What role does the government have in the EOI process – given they are providing funding amounting to $141,000 for every one of the 241 Centres to keep operating until March?”

Mrs Mirabella said it was time for the Government to come clean and let the industry and the public know exactly how this situation will be managed over the coming months, and what their role will be.

“It’s a disgrace that major industry players wanting to be involved in finding a solution are arrogantly disregarded?

“What is the Government’s plan they said they had back in September?

“On top of all this confusion and lack of transparency, the Government is determinedly pushing ahead with its plans to build over 200 brand new Child care Centres across the country. How has the Government decided where to locate these new centres and how will they fit into the existing childcare landscape?”

“For months now I have been calling on the Rudd Government to reveal their contingency plan and they still haven’t given anxious parents any answers,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.