MEDIA RELEASE: 29 APRIL 2025
KATE HOOK: CHILDCARE IS NOT A BABYSITTING SERVICE — FAMILIES DESERVE BETTER
Coalition's childcare cuts will hit parents hip pocket in Calare ‘childcare desert’: Kate Hook Independent
Independent candidate for Calare, Kate Hook, has slammed Peter Dutton’s plan to reintroduce the punitive "activity test" for childcare subsidies, warning it would lock thousands of children out of early education and punish families doing it tough in the cost-of-living crisis.
“This shows that Dutton and the National Party just don’t get it when it comes to parents and kids. This backwards step impacts working families (especially women), regional economies and productivity and I don’t think it will play well in the electorate during a cost-of-living crisis.”
Calare has been identified as a ‘childcare desert’ by experts with between 2.5 - 7 children often competing for every single available childcare spot. Places like Mudgee, Oberon, Orange and Blayney are some of the worst serviced areas.
“Calare is a childcare desert and Peter Dutton’s punitive activity test will make it more expensive for parents in my community,” said Independent candidate for Calare Kate Hook.
“Childcare is not a glorified babysitting service. It’s early education and it’s essential.”
“Peter Dutton’s backward plan would make it harder for families to get the support they need and harder for children to access the education that sets them up for life. Imagine being in a situation where you can’t go out to apply for jobs because you can’t get childcare, and you can’t get childcare until you can demonstrate that you’re out looking for a job. It’s a ridiculous Catch 22 scenario that entrenches inequality.”
Leading advocacy groups including The Parenthood and Thrive by Five have called for the activity test to be scrapped altogether, highlighting that it unfairly blocks access for vulnerable families and limits opportunities for children in their most important early years.
Leading advocacy groups including The Parenthood and Thrive by Five have called for the activity test to be scrapped altogether, highlighting that it unfairly blocks access for vulnerable families and limits opportunities for children in their most important early years.
Kate Hook’s plan backs families and children, not red tape:
- Capping childcare costs at $10 a day for three days a week.
- Free childcare for low-income families.
- Urgent investment to expand childcare services in regional communities like Calare, ensuring workers are valued for the crucial work they do.
- Push for national workforce strategies to recruit and retain early educators, with incentives for professionals to work in regional communities and continue to build career pathways.
“This isn’t just about getting parents into work — though that matters too. It’s about giving every child the best start, strengthening regional economies, and recognising that early education is nation-building work,” Ms Hook said.
While addressing the needs of parents and their children, Kate Hook says she will also tackle the challenges faced by childcare providers and early childhood educators.
“While the major parties play politics, I will work for a childcare system that puts families and children first.”