10 July 2014
Hunter Labor MPs are warning of the impact on local families from the Abbott Governments plan to freeze income thresholds for the Child Care BenefitThe Child Care Benefit is a means-tested payment to low and middle income families to assist with the cost of child care. The income thresholds for the payment have historically risen in line with the cost of living, but for the first time in the history of the payment the Government has introduced a Bill to stop this - meaning the gap between the cost of child care and Government assistance will grow.
More than 15,500 families in the Hunter region receive this support.The changes will impact low and middle income families, including those earning as little as 1 billion in cuts to early education and care. Labor MPs are calling for community support for their opposition to these cuts through the petition available at http://www.alp.org.au/targetedchildcarecuts
The legislation to freeze income thresholds for access to the Child Care Benefit is to be considered by the new Senate, which was sworn in this week.
BACKGROUND CCB:
Electorate
No. families using CCB
Newcastle
3,460
Charlton
3,330
Shortland
2,910
Hunter
2,610
Paterson
3,200
