Local family day care services will be forced to close their doors or raise fees as a result of Abbott Government funding cuts, Opposition Leader and Member for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten said today.

 

Mr Shorten said the Abbott Government had cut $157 million from family day care service funding, impacting around twenty nine local services.

 

"The Abbott Government's decision to cut funding from family day care services is expected to impact over 80 per cent of providers."

 

“These cuts will hit services hard, forcing many to either close their doors or increase fees for local families."

 

Mr Shorten said that many local families preferred the affordability and flexibility of local family day care services.

 

“Peak body Family Day Care Australia have said the Abbott Government's decision will result in fee increases of around $35 per week.”

 

“I know that for many Maribyrnong families already struggling with tight budgets, this is $35 they simply can't afford.”