An overwhelming 86% of Australian parents say that fees are one of their biggest concerns when it comes to getting their children into regular childcare, an Australian Greens poll of over 1000 parents has found.
"Parents from around the country are struggling under the weight of increasing childcare fees and it's time the government acted," the Greens' childcare spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
"More mums and dads are struggling to keep their kids in care because of the cost and that is a very worrying sign.
"The Productivity Commission report recognised affordability was an issue but, without a serious funding boost, we know that nothing will change."
For the first time, the National Childcare Survey has shown that more than half (52 per cent) of parents said that difficulty finding childcare 'always' impacted on their ability to work. In total, more than four out of five respondents (81.7%) said that difficulty finding care affected their ability to work.
"Investing in early education and care is the best way to guarantee good development outcomes for our kids, but it's also essential if we want to help get parents back to work," Senator Hanson-Young said.
"The Abbott Government's budget will cut half a billion dollars from childcare support and more than 80 per cent of parents think the Budget will impact on them negatively. It's clear that mums and dads understand that the cuts will hurt their family's budget and they're not happy.
"The Greens want to see every family in Australia given access to high quality, affordable, flexible childcare.
"We must act now if we are going to ensure the best possible outcomes for our kids and for Australia."
Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760
The survey was launched on the 24th of January 2014 and closed on the 20th of July 2014. Full results can be found here.
