3 October 2019
The Government’s latest quarterly data has been released, and it confirmed child care fees are still going up across country Victoria.
The data shows fees in east Gippsland have increased by an enormous 15.1 per cent over the last year to March 2019, well above the national increase of 4.9 per cent.
Fees in Warragul and Drouin have increased by 10.7 per cent, and by 10.4 per cent in Mildura. They’re up 9.7 per cent in the LaTrobe Valley, while families in Horsham are paying 9.3 per cent more than this time last year.
Childcare fees are up by 8 per cent in Shepparton, 7.3 per cent in Swan Hill, 6.8 per cent in Wangaratta and 6.4 per cent in Wodonga.
This means local parents are paying significantly more out of pocket for child care.
At a time when cost of living is increasing and wages are stagnating, families are being crippled under ever-increasing child care fees.
Child care fees in Australia have now increased by a staggering 30 per cent since the election of the Liberals.
Over a year into the Government’s new child care system and it has completely failed at putting downward pressure on fees – and families in country Victoria are paying the price.
Parents can not afford to pay any more for child care.
The Government must act to ensure affordable, accessible and high quality early education and care for families in Victoria’s rural and regional communities.
Featured image: Markus Spiske on Unsplash
