By Trent Westaway and Chloe Kent
ACCESS to affordable, high-quality early childhood education is a pressing concern for families in Bass Coast and South Gippsland, and as the 2025 federal election approaches, childcare has emerged as a pivotal issue, with major parties proposing divergent policies that could significantly impact regional communities.
The Albanese Labor Government has introduced a "Three-Day Guarantee," making sure all families have access to three days of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) per week, regardless of their parents’ employment status. This initiative aims to reduce barriers for low-income and underemployed families.
To support this, Labor has committed $1 billion through the Building Early Education Fund to establish or expand over 160 childcare centres, focusing on underserved areas, potentially including regional communities like Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
Despite these national initiatives, local families in Bass Coast and South Gippsland often face limited childcare options, and demand frequently outpaces supply.
The Coalition, on the other hand, proposes reinstating the activity test, requiring parents to work, study, or volunteer to qualify for childcare subsidies. This policy was designed to align childcare support with workforce participation, ensuring that subsidies were directed toward families actively contributing to the economy. Critics, however, argue this could disadvantage low-income and underemployed families, potentially reducing access to early education for vulnerable children.
An elected Coalition Government have also promised to establish a new Raising the Regions Program to deliver flexible and innovative approaches to early childhood education and care in childcare deserts; regional and rural areas where there is limited or no supply - areas like Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
Conversely, Labor's approach eliminates the activity test, promoting universal access. This policy shift is designed to support families where employment opportunities may be limited, ensuring children can benefit from early learning regardless of parental work status.
So what does Independent candidate Deb Leonard have to say about childcare:
"As a working mum, I know firsthand the stress of trying to juggle work and family responsibilities. Affordable, accessible childcare is absolutely essential – not just for parents, but for our kids and our economy too,” Ms Leonard stated on Monday.
“The Coalition’s plan to bring back the ‘activity test policy’ is a huge step backwards. It unfairly punishes families already doing it tough, locking over 100,000 children out of early learning. For parents in insecure work or trying to get back into the workforce, it creates an impossible catch-22.
“Investing in childcare is an investment in our future. It sets our kids up for the best start in life, and enables more parents, especially mums, to work and contribute to our economy. Not only that, but here in Monash we need to attract and retain professionals to the area, including doctors, nurses, teachers and healthcare specialists. To do this, we need to have accessible and affordable childcare.”
The future of childcare in Bass Coast and South Gippsland hinges on policy decisions made by the next federal government.
