Politics · Australia · 1 day ago
Albanese weighs cost and delivery options for universal childcare
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants to make universal childcare a lasting part of his government’s legacy in Australia.
The government defines universal care as available, good quality and affordable, rather than necessarily free.
For Sydney mother Rachel Hill, childcare costs rose from about $175 a week to $536 as her family moved from four days of care to five.
She says the cost of living drove her to work full-time, and that having another child was not financially workable.
The plan is taking shape amid allegations of abuse and safety breaches that have damaged trust in the childcare sector.
The government has commissioned studies on the cost of providing care across different areas and on whether it should own and lease centres, but it has not chosen a universal-care model.
Deloitte’s cost study is due by the end of the year, while the government has not released KPMG’s report, which it says is confidential to cabinet.
The government has also begun funding new centres in outer metropolitan and regional areas, including four centres backed by $17.3 million for three not-for-profit providers.
Anthony Albanese is weighing how to fund and deliver universal childcare, which he hopes will become a major Labor legacy.
The government defines universal childcare as care that is available, quality and affordable, and has not chosen a model.
Labor has indicated the system is likely to be means-tested.
The government is awaiting reports on childcare costs and whether it should own and lease centres.
The policy push comes amid child safety concerns and rising childcare costs for families.
- Who
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the federal government.
- What
- The government is considering the cost and delivery options for universal childcare.
- When
- Deloitte is due to deliver its report by the end of 2026.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- Albanese wants universal childcare to be a major political legacy; Labor says it could help make having children more affordable.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
as natural as public school
I did not want to go back full-time, it was purely because of the cost of living
We went from paying around $175 a week for four days of care … to now paying $536 a week for five days, so any increase I got in my salary I’m basically now paying in day care.
The 2026 intergenerational report showed deaths would outnumber births in Australia by the 2060s.
The first grant round from the building early education fund was announced, with $17.3 million allocated to three not-for-profit providers for four childcare centres.
Deloitte is due to give the government its report on the cost of delivering childcare services.
- Childcare cost for Hill
- $536 a week for five days of care, up from around $175 for four days
- Deloitte report
- Due to the government by the end of 2026
- Childcare centre data
- About 1,000 centres are needed to take part in the cost study
- Building early education fund
- $1 billion
- First grant round
- $17.3 million for four centres run by three not-for-profit providers
- Private operators
- 70% of the childcare sector is privately run
Sources
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