Defence contract with ABC corporate care

14-November-2008

While the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Employment, Workplace Relations and Social Inclusion says there is little the Government can do at the moment about ABC Learning, there is something she may be doing now to assist Defence Force families who have become entangled in the ABC mess, “Shadow Minister for Childcare and early Childhood Education Mrs Sophie Mirabella MP said today.

“ABC Corporate Care manages 18 Defence owned childcare centres and offers priority placing in another 20 ABC Centres for Defence families. Approximately 1450 Defence children are enrolled in ABC childcare centres across the country but this provision for priority placing which is so important for Defence Force families must surely be in doubt now,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The Minister should explain whether there are any clauses in the contract between the Department of Defence and ABC Corporate Care Ltd that would allow for the contract to be voided if the company is in the position that it now finds itself.”

“Could the collapse of ABC Learning a week ago have triggered this clause and has any work started on finding another childcare provider capable of doing the job? There must be numerous childcare organisations around the country with the ability and capacity to care for these children,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The situation surrounding ABC Learning Centres has created enormous confusion and stress for thousands of families but particularly for Defence Force families who already experience significant upheaval on a regular basis due to the nature of the job.”

“If the Government cannot take any other action to allay the concerns of the parents of the 120,000 children attending ABC Learning Centres around the country, then at least look at doing something positive for the children of our Defence Force personnel who, as a result of their parents’ service to our country, already have to live with constant change and uncertainty – Australian defence force families deserve better,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.