Childcare pay won't be returned

    PIA AKERMAN
    The Australian
    December 27, 2013


THE nation's biggest childcare provider has rejected calls by the Abbott government to hand back $60 million earmarked under Labor for pay rises, instead telling staff they will receive a wage increase.    :)    

Goodstart Early Learning has told the government it won't co-operate with Assistant Education Minister Sussan Ley's plea to "do the right thing" and drop its claim to the money sourced from a funding agreement signed the day before the federal election. Chief executive Julia Davidson said Goodstart's board had rejected Ms Ley's request that the money be redirected into a professional development program aimed at boosting skills and access to qualifications for all long-day care workers.

"While professional development is important, so too is the payment of fair, professional wages to educators," Ms Davidson said.      ;)

"The Goodstart board has decided this money should be allocated for the original purpose of supporting professional wages for Goodstart's educators."

She said the company was disappointed the government would not agree to a 22-month series of wage subsidy payments as promised by Labor.

Goodstart runs 641 early learning centres attended by 73,000 children, with 13,000 staff.

The Coalition has promised to honour only the signed contracts that give 12 providers, including Goodstart, access to the $300m Early Years Quality Fund set up by the previous government, even though an independent report found the funding allocation was unfair and had been used to boost union membership in the sector.

The government has asked the Auditor-General to consider auditing the EYQF amid questions about how the funding was allocated.

The national president of the United Voice union, Michael Crosby, said Goodstart told staff on Christmas Eve the money would be used to supplement wages, as originally intended.      :)

"It's not open to the employer to give the money back, it's not open to them to use it for professional development," he said.

Ms Ley said she was disappointed by Goodstart's move but the government remained committed to honouring funds contracted through the EYQF.

"I am surprised and disappointed by Goodstart's announcement, particularly given the dark cloud currently hanging over the creation and administration of this Labor fund," she said.

"It's also disappointing they've declined to join us in delivering lasting long-term improvements to the sector by sharing this funding fairly and equitably amongst all long-daycare educators, instead of a select few.

"Unfortunately, this just confirms all that Labor's achieved with this fund is boosting union membership and driving a clear pay divide through the childcare industry."      ::)

The report from PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia, revealed exclusively in The Australian this month, found the promised wage increases did not fulfil the EYQF's goal of helping childcare centres meet the demands of the Gillard government's national quality framework.

this is LABORS IDEA of treating ALL WORKING FAMILIES with respect.

its always been about split and divide..disgraceful...I bet they took their share of income tax from those who didnt get the raise though... hypocrites..

an absolutely monstrous  way for any govt to behave..

medieval.

cods wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 6:07am:

this is LABORS IDEA of treating ALL WORKING FAMILIES with respect.

you meant to say 'all working families except those who work in childcare' didn't you cods?

It was a vote bribe.  A blatent pork barrel.  Unfunded and unsustainable.

If childcare workers want a pay rise then childcare fees have to go up to pay for it.  The people that use childcare should have to pay for it, NOT the tax-payer.

"While professional development is important, so too is the payment of fair, professional wages to educators," Ms Davidson said.      ;)      

Swagman wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 9:09am:

It was a vote bribe.  A blatent pork barrel.  Unfunded and unsustainable. If childcare workers want a pay rise then childcare fees have to go up to pay for it.  The people that use childcare should have to pay for it, NOT the tax-payer.

I don't use public transport so why should I paid taxes to subside people fares that use public transport. I haven't got kids going to school so why should I subside education.

John Smith wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 8:54am:

cods wrote on Dec 27th, 2013 at 6:07am: this is LABORS IDEA of treating ALL WORKING FAMILIES with respect. you meant to say 'all working families except those who work in childcare' didn't you cods?

Yes, what exactly was that rant about?  HOW DARE THEY PAY THEM MORE!!!

Swagman wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 9:09am:

It was a vote bribe.  A blatent pork barrel.  Unfunded and unsustainable. If childcare workers want a pay rise then childcare fees have to go up to pay for it.  The people that use childcare should have to pay for it, NOT the tax-payer.

Just like paid parental leave should be paid for by the company, no the government?  Gee, I wish you lot would get your ideology straigth.

Swagman wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 9:09am:

It was a vote bribe.  A blatent pork barrel.  Unfunded and unsustainable. If childcare workers want a pay rise then childcare fees have to go up to pay for it.  The people that use childcare should have to pay for it, NOT the tax-payer.

It was a vote bribe

As if anyone smarter than a dead wombat working in child care would vote Liberal under any circumstance ???

Bribe who ???  That is just silly.

So the conga line of loony fringe hate kids too, no surprise there.

skippy. wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 11:40am:

So the conga line of loony fringe hate kids too, no surprise there.

Only because they grow up into people like you.  ;D

Swagman wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 9:09am:

It was a vote bribe.  A blatent pork barrel.  Unfunded and unsustainable. If childcare workers want a pay rise then childcare fees have to go up to pay for it.  The people that use childcare should have to pay for it, NOT the tax-payer.

My wife and I pay for both our young boys (3.5 & 10mths) to attend childcare and it costs us a small fortune each week. I think it's somewhere between $600-$700 a week if my memory serves me correctly. The staff at my boys' childcare centre are fantastic and I wouldn't begrudge them a well-earned payrise. However, it shouldn't be funded by taxpayers. It was nothing more than blatant vote-grabbing by a Labor Party desperate for as many votes as possible.

Innocent bystander wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 12:17pm:

skippy. wrote on Dec 27th, 2013 at 11:40am: So the conga line of loony fringe hate kids too, no surprise there. Only because they grow up into people like you.  ;D

At least you admit you hate the kiddies.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 12:20pm:

Swagman wrote on Dec 27th, 2013 at 9:09am: It was a vote bribe.  A blatent pork barrel.  Unfunded and unsustainable. If childcare workers want a pay rise then childcare fees have to go up to pay for it.  The people that use childcare should have to pay for it, NOT the tax-payer. My wife and I pay for both our young boys (3.5 & 10mths) to attend childcare and it costs us a small fortune each week. I think it's somewhere between $600-$700 a week if my memory serves me correctly. The staff at my boys' childcare centre are fantastic and I wouldn't begrudge them a well-earned payrise. However, it shouldn't be funded by taxpayers. It was nothing more than blatant vote-grabbing by a Labor Party desperate for as many votes as possible.

I'd actually agree with you, but I will say it'll keep your small fortune from becoming a medium fortune.

And once again, how are you for paid parental leave, but agianst child care? How is this different to the wank's proposal to pay for all paid parental leave? Shouldn't business pay paid parental leave?

See this is the problem with the liberal heartthrobs. You guys simply contradict your own ideology left, right and centre!   If you don't think government should cover business costs, which I agree with, then don't sit there clapping like little kids because the wank is about to introduce the massive cost of paid parental leave.


And as for this particular issue, funds have been distributed. It's too late and no "please return the funds" is going to work. What nonsense from an obviously dumb Susan Ley.

You want PPL?  Organise your finances and your lifestyle so you can afford time off...

You want childcare paid for?  Pay for it......

I keep hearing about all these Black Holes in Budgetaria... wonder where they all come from?

I figured out that Tone and Joe could get into every pensioner for ten bucks a week and save a billion a year - a billion that, BTW, they get back anyway in taxes...  so how come it's all right to attack pensioners?

A drop in the bucket for the cash these fools throw around with gay abandon... trying to catch votes...

John S wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 9:38am:

Swagman wrote on Dec 27th, 2013 at 9:09am: It was a vote bribe.  A blatent pork barrel.  Unfunded and unsustainable. If childcare workers want a pay rise then childcare fees have to go up to pay for it.  The people that use childcare should have to pay for it, NOT the tax-payer. I don't use public transport so why should I paid taxes to subside people fares that use public transport. I haven't got kids going to school so why should I subside education.

I agree, why indeed.


Dnarever wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 10:39am:

It was a vote bribe As if anyone smarter than a dead wombat working in child care would vote Liberal under any circumstance ??? Bribe who ???  That is just silly.

Anyone smarter than a dead wombat would probably work somewhere else where the pay was better.....

My greatniece who works in aged care was real unhappy with the simian taking away the promised pay increase.

Swagman wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 1:26pm:

I agree, why indeed.

So tell, me, why do i spend my hard earned taxpayer dollars on you then?  Because thats what tax does, pays for things we need that we otherwise won't get.


Swagman wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 1:26pm:

Anyone smarter than a dead wombat would probably work somewhere else where the pay was better.....

hard as it is for a tory to imagine, people actually do jobs for things other than money.

St George of the Garden wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 2:01pm:

My greatniece who works in aged care was real unhappy with the simian taking away the promised pay increase.

She wants free stuff from the government ... you have taught her well.


Blame the ALP for losing her free stuff, if they weren't so preoccupied with stabbing each other in the back, flooding the country with fake reffos, introducing idiotic taxes and trying to bankrupt the country they may still be in power today and there would be free stuff for everyone  :D