PM’S UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE LEGACY CAN BE CEMENTED WITH $10-A-DAY FEE CAPS
06 May 2025 – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has the opportunity to create a universal early education and care system which would be his enduring legacy by introducing a $10 a day cap on early learning fees, advocates say.
Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign has congratulated the Federal Government on its election victory and urged it to continue building on progress made in its first term towards a universal, accessible and affordable early learning system.
Minderoo Foundation’s Griffin Longley said that introducing daily fee caps was an important next step in the Federal Government’s early learning reform agenda.
“We congratulate the Federal Government on their election victory and commend its commitment to building a universal early learning system in Australia,” Mr Longley said.
“On several occasions during the election campaign, including in two leaders’ debates, Prime Minister Albanese reiterated his desire for universal childcare to be his legacy.
“In their second term, the Prime Minister and his government must take the steps necessary to realise his stated vision.
“During their first term, the Federal Government embarked on vital reform and they now have the mandate to build on this progress.
“The Federal Government has funded a well-deserved and long overdue fifteen per cent wage increase for our nation’s hardworking early educators. They have made training pathways more accessible for aspiring educators through the provision of fee-free TAFE.
“They have abolished the punitive Activity Test, which has long prevented vulnerable families from accessing early learning, and guaranteed Australian families access to three days of subsidised care.
“They have committed $1 billion to the Building Early Education Fund, which will build or expand early learning centres in areas of need.
“The clear next step towards achieving universal access is capping early learning fees at $10 a day for three days a week and making early education free for low-income families.
“Doing so will provide immediate cost-of-living relief to families with young children who have been doing it especially tough.
“It will help rein in out-of-pocket early learning costs, which have risen at four times the rate of inflation despite record increases to the Child Care Subsidy, because providers are still free to charge parents whatever they want.
“It will enable thousands of primary carers across the country, who are predominantly women, to re-enter the workforce should they choose to, giving our economy a boost.
“Most importantly, it will help us ensure that every Australian child, regardless of their circumstances, can access the life-changing positive benefits of access to high-quality early learning and care.
“This is the kind of nation-strengthening reform that Australians deserve, especially at a time of increasing uncertainty.
“We look forward to working with the Federal Government in helping build a truly universal early learning and care system in Australia,” Mr Longley said.
