The Federal Government is changing the requirements for families to be eligible for funding assistance, and Hunter MP's aren't happy.
Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said close to 1200 families will be losing out in his electorate with cuts to childcare assistance.
Under the government's new package families will have to satisfy a complex set of rules to qualify for government assistance including a work test and a means test. Joel Fitzgibbon says the works test will require families to satisfy minimum levels of 'approved activities' each fortnight.
He says it's outrageous.
"These new activity test rules are so complex and difficult that many low income families where one person, indeed sometimes two people working casually will be squeezed out of the system. Money funding and big tax cuts for the big end of town means low income families lose their child care."
He adds families in the lowest income bracket who earn less than $65,000 will be hit the worst by the changes, and its all on top of the 18 per cent growth in fees since the Liberal Government was elected.
"Well the government is out to save money to fund its multi-billion dollar tax cuts for the big end of town, and who pays? Low income families in the Hunter region," said Joel Fitzgibbon.
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| Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon. Image theaustralia.com.au |
