Childcare carrots in firing line

CHILDCARE and early education providers would be banned from offering inducements to boost enrolment numbers under a policy federal Labor says it will implement if its wins the next election.

Recent reports have highlighted the lengths which some childcare and early learning centres are willing to go to in order to secure enrolments in their centres.

Examples of the inducements being offered include holiday packages in resorts, cash refunds, and free iPads.

It was reported at the weekend some of the benefits proposed — in addition to basic care services — also included discounts on groceries, petrol or utilities, family takeaway meals, dry cleaning services, on-site hairdressing, nighttime babysitting, gym memberships, food allergy testing, child psychologists, yoga lessons, and even cashback dollars for free childcare days.

Early childhood education spokesman Amanda Rishworth said it would protect parents from being lured into childcare arrangements that might not suit their needs.

Ms Rishworth said the inducements were not an appropriate use of taxpayer funds.

The Commonwealth is projected to spend $7.9 billion on the childcare subsidy this year.

“This funding is to support families meet the costs of child care and early education — not for providers to give away in a mad scramble to increase enrolments,” she said.

“For profit providers are making $1 billion in profits from the system.

“This profit is underwritten by the taxpayers.”

She said enrolling inducements did not meet community expectations and undermined the value of quality in early learning centres.