Federal Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks MP said Central Coast families will have more choice and opportunity to work as a result of the Federal Budget’s Jobs for Families package.
“I’m pleased to see that the 2015 Budget delivers on the Government’s commitment to support families by making child care simpler, more affordable, more flexible, and more accessible,” Ms Wicks said.
“I’ve been consulting with thousands of families, and the feedback I’ve received in places such as Kariong and Kincumber … is that so many Central Coast families are faced with costs when parents want to return to the workforce.
“Families using child care in 2017, on family incomes of between $65,000 and $170,000, will be around $30 a week better off.
“Those on higher incomes will, on average, continue to receive the same level of support.
“Families on incomes of less than $65,000 per year will receive ongoing access to early childhood learning, and can be eligible for additional financial support through the Child Care Safety Net,” Ms Wicks said.
The simplified Child Care Subsidy will replace the current Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate and Jobs, Education and Training Child Care Fee Assistance programs.
The simplified Child Care Subsidy will include the introduction of a single means tested Child Care Subsidy for all families, subject to a new activity test for up to 100 hours of subsidised care per child, per fortnight, paid directly to approved care service providers.
For family incomes of up to approximately $65,000 the Child Care Subsidy will be 85% per child of the actual fee or a benchmark price, whichever is lower, Ms Wicks said.
Families on incomes under $185,000 will no longer have a cap on the amount of subsidy they receive, according to Ms Wicks.
A cap of $10,000 per child will be established for the total value of subsidies for family incomes of $185,000 and above.
Media release,
12 May 2015
Tim Sowden, Office of
Lucy Wicks MP