David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There has been a lot of focus on early childhood learning and care, as there should be, given the deeply concerning events in Victoria. While the government's response is welcome, I believe we need to be having a bigger conversation about the provision of early learning and care in this country. Do we want this to be a for-profit industry, or do we want it to be like primary and secondary education, provided as a public benefit? What recent events have also highlighted is the growing prevalence of for-profit providers—78 per cent of new long daycare centres during the past decade were established by for-profit operators, yet it's the community-run, not-for-profit centres that are often delivering better-quality care.

Too many of these centres are closing in Canberra—two community-run centres at the ANU, one in Charnwood, and now SDN Bluebell in Belconnen. Why? Not because of lack of demand for the centres, not because the operator doesn't want to continue, but because their building is being redeveloped. I've met with the families impacted by this decision, and many of them are here with us today in the gallery. This centre is an integral part of their community. It is deeply valued, and there's a scarcity of other places in comparable centres in the Belconnen area. I've spoken to the owners of SDN Bluebell—they want to keep this centre open. All they need to do is find another suitable location to relocate the service to in the Belconnen area. They are looking hard, but need more time. This is a solvable problem, and we should solve it. I will be writing to the ACT government to ask them to pause the Crown lease variation approval and to actively assist SDN to find a new location in the Belconnen area. This isn't too much to ask, and I thank the parents for their advocacy.