Australia's consumer watchdog has revealed the enormous burden of childcare fees on households. The ACCC report is the second in a series, drafting recommendations to government to improve outcomes in the sector.
With more than a million Australian households using childcare in the last year, the cornerstone of his policy was a reform to give hundreds of thousands of families expanded access to subsidies.
"The good news is the cheaper childcare laws that we passed through the parliament last year, that have started in July of this year, are now starting to have an effect. We've seen the cost of childcare on hour on average dropped by 14%. In July, that's a good thing.
"The juggle is ridiculous, and it's certainly not in line with the rest of the O-E-C-D. You're begging, borrowing and stealing care where you can get it, you're leaning on family, you're leaning on friends, and you just feel like something's going to have to give. And that's why a lot of women decide not to go back to work - because they feel like they can't. Even they know that their family budget relies on it, they feel like they just can't make it work.
Lower income families currently bear the brunt of jumps in prices, with profit incentives meaning providers target rich suburbs in big cities.
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