By Julie Doyle.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will use an address at the National Press Club today to unveil a new strategy to get his Government’s child care changes through Parliament.
The Government wants to streamline multiple child care subsidies into one means-tested payment, with the highest amount going to the lowest income families.
It also wants to remove the annual cap on the amount of Child Care Rebate paid to most families.
But the Government has consistently argued the package cannot go ahead without cuts to family tax benefits to pay for it.
When Parliament resumes this month the Government will introduce a new child care bill, combining these two elements into one piece of legislation.
The Government wants the legislation passed early this year so the child care package can come into effect on the scheduled start date of July next year.
The changes to child care have been on the table since 2013 and families and child care providers are becoming increasingly frustrated by the delays.
They argue the current subsidies are woefully inadequate, particularly the Child Care Rebate which covers families for half their costs.
But it is capped at around $7,500 per child for each financial year.
Canberra mother Jacqueline Cooke hit the annual cap in December, which means her child care fees have now doubled until the end of June.
“We had a few glorious months of having some disposable income and then straight back into over two thirds of my wages going on child care,” Mrs Cooke said.