To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in parliament assembled, the families and friends of Charlestown Child Care Centre respectfully bring to your attention the adverse effects to the quality, availability and equity of child care should changes proposed in the recently tabled budget go ahead.

Namely that:

removal of operational subsidies to community based (not for profit) long day care centres will increase fees, adding a greater financial burden to working parents.

removal of operational subsidy to community based (not for profit) long day care centres in order to place them in competition with privately owned centres (operating for profit) is unfair, iniquitous and may result in a lesser quality of care for our children.

We request the House support the retention of operational subsidies to community based (not for profit) long day care centres and that community based (not for profit) child care continue to be valued and supported as a lower cost, high quality child care alternative for working parents.