The Albanese Government’s Cheaper Child Care changes have cut the cost of child care for Australian families, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.
Child care affordability improved by 13.2 per cent nationally according to the report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The ABS estimates that without the changes to the Child Care Subsidy, child care costs for families would have increased by 6.7 per cent.
All major cities have seen child care costs for families drop by at least 10 per cent, with some seeing a reduction of more than 17 per cent.
The changes to the Child Care Subsidy introduced in July are clearly benefiting around 1.2 million families across the country.
Capital City | Quarterly change in Child Care CPI% (Jun qtr. 2023 – Sep qtr. 2023) |
Sydney | -10.6% |
Melbourne | -17.5% |
Brisbane | -13.6% |
Adelaide | -18.0% |
Perth | -12.4% |
Hobart | -14.0% |
Darwin | -12.4% |
Canberra | -11.9% |
National | -13.2% |
Cheaper Child Care has increased the base subsidy rates for all families earning up to $530,000, with the maximum subsidy now set to 90 per cent for families earning $80,000 or less.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“The Albanese Government’s Cheaper Child Care changes have made early childhood education and care more affordable for around 1.2 million Australian families.
“These changes are cutting the cost of child care and putting downward pressure on inflation.
“In contrast, as the ACCC recently revealed, in the last four years of the former government, prices went up by twice as much as the OECD average.
“Cheaper Child Care is good for children, good for parents, and good for the economy.
“This is real cost-of-living relief for families, but there is more to do.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly:
“More affordable quality early childhood education and care is a big win for families, for women and for children.
“Families now have greater choice when it comes to balancing the early learning needs of children along with being able to work more hours to boost household income.
