The Hon Stephen Jones MP

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services

Member for Whitlam

Alison Byrnes MP

Member for Cunningham

Illawarra families will soon see an increase in child care subsidies as part of a $4.7 billion package under the Albanese Government’s recently announced Federal Budget.  

Across the Illawarra there are more than 12,000 families using approved childcare, meaning this budget announcement will directly benefit local, eligible families.

Starting July 2023, child care subsidy rates will increase up to 90 per cent for eligible families earning less than $530,000, and any additional children in care aged 5 and under will continue to receive existing higher subsidy rates of up to 95 per cent.

Additionally, it is estimated these reforms will increase the hours worked by women with young children and with 2021 Census Data indicating 79.6% of single-parent Illawarra families are women, these reforms will go towards improving our workforce shortages.

Quotes Attributable to Stephen Jones, Member for Whitlam:

“Across Australia and in the Illawarra, we’re experiencing a workforce shortage, higher cost of living and rising pressure on families,”

“Our new child care subsidy package will directly help 12,000 Illawarra families ease the cost of child care and give parents the flexibility to get back to the workforce.”

Quotes attributable to Alison Byrnes, Member for Cunningham:

“These Labor Budget commitments will help families manage the cost of living and plan for the future with cheaper child care, cheaper medicines and expanding Paid Parental Leave to six months.

These changes will also increase help to increase female participation in the workplace and increase productivity – a win for families and for our economy.”

For more information on the child care subsidies, as well as information on the other initiatives available to working families and single parents under the Albanese Government’s plan to address cost of living can be found here: https://budget.gov.au/