Opposition Leader and Member for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten and Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood Kate Ellis today visited the Jindi Woraback Children’s Centre in St Albans, to launch a new national campaign against the Abbott Government’s cuts to child care assistance.

Mr Shorten and Ms Ellis met with local staff and parents to discuss the impact of the Abbott Government’s plan to freeze the income thresholds for the Child Care Benefit.

“The Child Care Benefit is means-tested and assists thousands of local low and middle income families with the cost of child care,” Mr Shorten said.

“This is in complete contrast to the Abbott Government’s unfair and unaffordable Paid Parental Leave scheme which isn’t properly targeted.”

“Under the Abbott Government’s cuts, Brimbank families earning as little as $42,000 a year will be hit.”

Mr Shorten said that Early Childhood Australia modelling suggests that in some cases, families will have to pay between $3,000 and $5,000 extra because of these cuts.

“This is yet another attack on Brimbank families already feeling the pain of the Abbott Government’s GP tax, petrol tax and cuts to family assistance,” he said.

To take a stand against Tony Abbott’s cuts to child care, sign the petition here: www.alp.org.au/targetedchildcarecuts

ENDS