childcare

The wishes of Australian women are seemingly being heard, with Labor’s first budget delivering strong initial steps toward gender equality.

Leticia Laing is entitled to claim some childcare-related expenses for after-hours meetings as a councillor. But when she did, a local paper “exposed” what she was spending.

New Treasury analysis shows that mum’s earnings falling by an average of 55 per cent in the first five years of parenthood. 

In October 2020 just as Scott Morrison showed women how little he cared about their economic security, Labor committed to childcare reform.

They care for and educate our children, and are responsible for the wellbeing of future generations. They must be fairly remunerated.

Early childcare workers will go on strike this September 7th, closing its centres to address the crisis situation of poor pay.

The NSW government has promised a $5 billion investment in childcare, as well as improvements to paid parental leave for the public sector.

Without urgently stemming the loss of the early learning and care workforce – with decent pay and conditions – there will be no early childhood education and care.

Free childcare would generate $48billion per year, 255,000 full time jobs in the sector & free up the equivalent of 850,000 ft workers.

The government’s changes to paid parental leave will not support gender equality, while childcare costs were ignored in the budget.

Affordable childcare could help boost the superannuation of Australian women, who are currently retiring with one third less super than men.

Parents of young kids hoping for an easier start to the working year have already been dealt a blow with childcare centres closing.