CHILD CARE WORKERS CHEATED

Media Release.

10 Dec. 2013 

Despite heading to the election with an iron clad promise to honour Early Years Quality Fund wage increases for low paid early childhood educators, the Abbott Government has today asked for the money back.

"This Government is not just breaking their election commitments, they are now asking child care providers to do it for them" Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Kate Ellis said.

"This latest flip-flop rom the Abbott Government is seriously bizarre, totally chaotic and just plain cruel".

Just last week, Tony Abbott told the Parliament that his Government would keep its election promise to honour Early Years Quality Fund contracts:

"We will absolutely honour all of our commitments and contracts, and contracts which have been entered into will be honoured".
PRIME MINISTER TONY ABBOTT QUESTION TIME 5 DECEMBER 2013

But today, Sussan Ley, "invited" providers to "do the right thing" and return funds which have not even be paid yet.

Providers are now in the impossible position of being asked by the Government to cancel long overdue and fully funded pay rises on the eve of Christmas.

"Imagine looking some of Australia's lowest-paid but highest-value workers in the eye and telling them that you will have to choose between delivering a long-promised pay rise, or doing what the a chaotic government wants and returning the money," Kate Ellis said.

"When is a broken promise not a broken promise? When it's outsourced, apparently."

"If elected, the Coalition will honour funds contracted from the EYQF"
2013 COALITION ELECTION POLICY DOCUMENT


"Ripping money away from educators will lead to increased fees, and comes on top of the Abbott Government's four year freeze on the indexation of the Child Care Rebate cap. Tens of thousands of families will be worse off."

"This is a disgraceful attack on our dedicated and low paid educators across the child care sector."

"Today's shambolic announcement is just the latest broken promise and makes an absolute mockery of the sensible, methodical Government promised by Tony Abbott".