Senator for the ACT, Kate Lundy has criticised the Minister for Family Services, Judi Moylan, for delaying funding for new family day care places in the ACT.
“Family Day Care organisations have approached me about the delay in funding new places,” Senator Lundy said today.
“I understand funding for the places was allocated in last year’s budget and a planning committee met in June this year to determine the high-need areas for child care in the ACT. Gungahlin, in particular, was recognised as being in urgent need of more family day care places. The decision of the planning committee was sent to the Minister, Judi Moylan, for approval two months ago but as of yesterday, the Minister has still not dealt with the matter.
“The delay is doubled because this is just an initial brief to the Minister. After approving the high-need areas, the brief needs to be returned to the Department and then a request for funding has to be forwarded back to the Minister for further approval.
“At this rate, the funding to family day care organisations will be delayed a further six months and parents will be lucky to see any new places before June next year.
“Family Day Care providers are either waiting for the funding to employ new carers or going ahead and subsidising the service themselves. The process for funding approval is lengthy but this extra delay is causing great difficulties for care providers to plan ahead. Phone calls to the Minister’s office have gone unanswered.
“Two months is long enough for a Minister to sit on a brief, especially when it is not the end of the process. One could be very cynical and wonder whether the delay is intentional to save the Government money but surely the Minister wouldn’t do that,” Senator Lundy said.
For further information please call Senator Lundy or Kym Connolly on 277 3334
