ABC Childcare should be put into the hands of Council - press release

Two local government candidates have called for Frankston City Council to take over the operational costs of local ABC Learning Childcare Centres, in the wake of the company’s recent liquidation and subsequent Federal funding.

Frankston City Council’s GREENS candidates, South West Ward’s JAYMZ STEVENS and North West Ward’s LES MALLETT have called on Council to work with the Federal Government to explore the possibility of integrating the many ABC Learning childcare centres in Frankston into Council’s children’s services.

“If the choice is between losing these services, or transferring them at no capital cost to Council, then it is only right that Council should explore this option. Frankston City Council currently manages two long day care centres and could assess the cost of picking up the operational costs of the seven ABC Learning Centres in the municipality and request federal government assistance to transfer the centres to Frankston City Council,” Mr Stevens said.

“Local governments play a vital role in the delivery of children’s services – from maternal and child health care to kindergarten programs. Long day care, occasional care and family day care are also delivered by Frankston City Council and the services are of an exceptionally high quality,” agreed fellow Greens candidate for North West Ward, Les Mallett.

“Local governments need to be included in discussions with the federal government about the future of ABC Childcare Centres in their municipality. Frankston City Council can offer a sustainable model for the delivery of childcare and one that is committed to high quality, accessible and affordable care for all,” said Mr Stevens.

As the federal government looks for solutions to ABC’s collapse, the Greens candidates believe that it could explore the relationship that local government has with children’s services and talk to Councils about supporting their role in the delivery of childcare. Council would be understandably nervous about bearing the cost of childcare, so federal government support should be forthcoming to encourage Council to extend their services into childcare where possible.

“Having a young family myself,” said Mr Stevens, “I strongly believe that we need to maintain and extend sustainable models of childcare provision. After all, childcare is just that – the care of our children. It’s too important to ignore.”