Jamie Chaffey (Parkes, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is apparent to anyone living and working in the communities across the Parkes electorate that there is a dire lack of access to child care. In fact, the region is often described as a childcare desert. That's why it was so worrying to me to hear that a preschool in Broken Hill had closed suddenly in November last year, leaving many families without the care they needed for their children. No trustworthy, reliable care means a lack of working options for parents and very much limits their ability to earn a wage.

I'm happy to report that another early learning centre, Explorers Early Learning long-day-care centre, has just opened—a great result for families in Broken Hill. Of course, the opening of this centre was not without its hiccups. Explorers wrote to me on 17 February this year in desperation, seeking my help to expedite the assessment of their Child Care Subsidy application. The application had been filed in January. Two weeks later, the centre reached out to the NSW Department of Education to see how it was progressing. The short answer was: it wasn't progressing.

Without approval of the Child Care Subsidy application, the families were facing full-fee costs to put their children through the centre. Explorers sought help through my office. I was able to advocate on their behalf, seeking the urgent assessment of the application and highlighting how important it was to provide child care in Broken Hill as quickly as possible. I applaud the people behind Explorers Early Learning— (Time expired)