Parliamentary Speeches
Doorstop Transcript, Garran Child Care Centre
31 May 2010THE HON JULIA GILLARD MP
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Minister for Education
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Minister for Social Inclusion
THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
Minister for Early Childhood Education and Child Care
Minister for Youth and Sport
TRANSCRIPT
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP
9AM MONDAY
31 MAY 2010
GARRAN CHILD CARE CENTRE
ISSUES: GoodStart takes over 570 former ABC Learning Centres; Resources Super Profit Tax; BER; Morris Iemma.
JULIA GILLARD: Can I say it's a great pleasure to be here today with the fairly aged Matthew Franklin but possibly more significantly, though I don't mean that badly, is the Minister for Early Childhood Development and Child Care, Kate Ellis. We're also joined by Matthew Horton from GoodStart, Sue Lines from the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union and our candidate for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann. And we're here today at this child care centre to celebrate that today is the day that GoodStart, a not-for-profit consortium, takes over 570 ABC Learning child care centres.
Now, as we remember only too clearly in November 2008, ABC Learning collapsed. It was Australia's biggest private child care provider with 1039 centres around the country. If the Government hadn't stepped in at that time to manage the consequences of the collapse then those child care centres would have closed with 62,000 children no longer able to access child care with all of the disruption that would have meant for working families and with the impact on the 13,000 staff who worked for ABC Learning.
We have worked piece by piece, step by step to manage the consequences of this collapse and today is another huge step in managing what has happened as a result of ABC Learning collapsing. Today GoodStart, a not-for-profit consortium, takes over 570 of these centres. This has been made possible in part by a loan of $15 million from the Federal Government and this loan will be repaid.
From the point of view of the kids and the parents who use child care, what it means for them is continuity of care and GoodStart will be able to run these centres, obviously not having to return a private sector profit. This is good news for the families that use these centres. It's good news that we've been able to manage our way through this huge collapse of a private child care provider.
I'll turn now to Kate Ellis for some comments, Kate.
KATE ELLIS: Well thank you very much, Deputy Prime Minister.
Today is a very significant day when it comes to Australian child care. We know that in order to have a stable child care market in this nation we need the right balance of not-for-profit and private providers and as a result of GoodStart today taking over 570 formerly ABC Centres, the mix of not-for-profit providers in the market increases from 22 to 34 per cent.
Today's announcement is incredibly good news for parents. We know that parents that are using centres like this one will rest assured knowing that the centres are in safe hands for a viable future. It's good news for children and we know that GoodStart have a commitment to quality early childhood education and care and that the kids in these centres will be getting the best examples of care at these centres.
But it's also incredibly good news for ABC staff. GoodStart have committed to honouring all of the former entitlements of these staff, including their long service leave. So this is a very good news day for Australian child care and it is a remarkable turnaround from where we were at the collapse of ABC.
But as a Government we also know that it is much better to prevent these things from happening and destabilising our child care market than to step in and pick up the pieces, so we were delighted that in the Budget, just a couple of weeks ago, we've now put in place measures to make sure that we have a greater capacity to ensure that this never happens again and this includes the Government doing much greater background checks on those entering the child care market for their financial scrutiny but also their past involvement with any child care centres.
It also means for the first time the Government has the power to commission independent audits into child care providers with a large stake in the market and that we can continue to monitor these.
And it also means that for parents we have increased the notice period required in the event of a closure of a child care centre from 30 to 42 days. What this means is that parents and communities have more chance to find alternative care arrangements.
So we're delighted to be here on a good news day for Australian child care but we're also adamant that we will work to make sure that we prevent anything like the collapse of ABC from occurring on our watch, and this is another really important step in our delivery of affordable quality child care for Australian families.
JULIA GILLARD: I think Matthew wanted to say something on behalf of GoodStart.
MATTHEW HORTON: Thank you very much, Deputy Prime Minister. Thank you, Minister for attending at ABC Garran today.
I'd like to echo the Minister's comments that today is a wonderful day for child care in Australia. Secondly over the last two years at ABC Learning centres the staff and the parents have faced some uncertainty but it's all about the future for GoodStart now and we'll be focusing on giving quality early learning and care throughout all of the centres.
Today we're taking over 570 centres. There'll be more centres to come across over the next few months as we finalise negotiations with landlords.
GoodStart will concentrate on quality, as I said. We will do this by engaging parents, consulting parents, we've already started that process around the country to work out what it is parents want from early learning and care. The most important asset GoodStart obtained today though are our staff, our loyal, dedicated staff and we'll certainly be doing everything we can to make their position in the child care sector well known and understood.
JULIA GILLARD: Sue might want to say something at this point.
SUE LINES: The union congratulates GoodStart today and the Federal Government for not only coming at the critical stage to support ABC through the difficult times that we had around 18 months ago but also enabling GoodStart to have a brilliant start at these centres with the $15 million loan. We also pay our tributes to the staff who stuck with ABC for the last 20 months with great uncertainty and at times and (inaudible) so they'll very, very pleased today to see the move forward. The union also applauds the Government on its move in regulation (inaudible).
We know the regulations are being drafted. We'll wait to see them but we clearly do want all parts of the sector much more heavily regulated so that we never, ever have this crisis in our infrastructure again. What happened in ABC is shameful. We've drawn a line in the sand, GoodStart have come along, it's fantastic that we've got a not-for-profit consortium taking over a significant part of the market and the union's certainly looking forward to that and we look forward to even greater regulation of this sector in the future.
JULIA GILLARD: Matthew?
JOURNALIST: Matthew can probably answer this question.
JULIA GILLARD: Go from Matthew to Matthew.
JOURNALIST: Look, the $15 million, what was the impact of that? Is that what helps you in maintaining entitlements for the staff (inaudible)?
MATTHEW HORTON: (inaudible).
JOURNALIST: Ms Gillard, why should we believe anything that Kevin Rudd or for that matter your Government says when he is capable of reneging on commitments he made to get himself elected and has backed down so spectacularly on the question of political advertising?
JULIA GILLARD: Right, well there are a few assumptions in that question which I won't endorse. I take it that you're referring to the reports in today's newspapers about matters involving the privatisation of assets in New South Wales and the Prime Minister supported the privatisation in New South Wales and you would see that from the public record.
On the question of advertising, we do believe it's important that Australians get the whole story, the whole truth about the proposed Resources Super Profits Tax. Obviously there are lots of claims and counterclaims being made; there's lots of advertising. We believe it's appropriate that Australians hear from the Australian Government about the reasons for this tax, the arrangements for the tax and particularly what the tax will go to support and that is an important reduction in company tax, breaks for small businesses including a $5000 tax break and of course it's also supporting the ability for us to increase superannuation for Australian working people from nine per cent&
JOURNALIST: That's what Howard said about Work Choices. He said we have to spend this money to counter the union campaign and you guys virtually accused him of stealing money. What's the difference?
JULIA GILLARD: Well I think let's just remember the size and scale of what was undertaken in Work Choices advertising. I'm particularly familiar with the size and scale because we've still got mouse pads and pens we can't get rid of and despite my longstanding offer to take them to Liberal Party Secretariat, I've heard no word from Tony Abbott. I though they might come in handy for his future pro-Work Choices advertising campaign.
The size and scale of the spend on Work Choices was more than $120 million. The scale of advertising in the lead up to the 2007 election was truly spectacular. What we are talking about here is an advertising campaign to get Australians the whole story, the whole facts about the Resources Super Profits Tax.
JOURNALIST: Kevin Rudd said, before the election he said to us that he would make the Auditor-General in control of advertising, take it out of the hands of politicians. He said in direct answer to a direct question that if he didn't do that in his first term he would resign. Now, I know that you guys say well we did it, but now you've undone it. Why should anyone believe anything that Kevin Rudd says in this election campaign?
JULIA GILLARD: OK, well let's get some facts on the table. This Government committed to having advertising guidelines and independent oversight of government advertising and when elected, we brought into place advertising guidelines and independent oversight of government advertising.
Initially that independent oversight was provided by the Auditor-General. There was feedback to the Alan Hawk Review that this was not an appropriate task for the Auditor-General and indeed there are some members of the Opposition who also expressed that view. So there is still independent oversight. It is now being done through a committee of respected Australians rather than the Auditor-General.
So what was promised guidelines and independent oversight is in place.
JOURNALIST: No what was promised was the Auditor-General overseeing this, not the Auditor-General doing it for a while and then dissemble that system and create a new one. That's what was promised.
JULIA GILLARD: And we introduced the system, we said that we would review it, obviously it was new and I make that point. Obviously it was new, the Howard Government had no independent guidelines or independent oversight. We instigated the system of guidelines and oversight by the Auditor-General. We reviewed the system, it was reviewed by Alan Hawk. It was viewed to be appropriate to move the independent oversight from the Auditor-General, who of course has a very special statutory purpose in relation to the Australian Government, into the hands of an independent committee and that has happened.
JOURNALIST: So it's not time for Kevin Rudd to resign and for you to step up? He was so emphatic about that promise. He said 100 per cent, you can all hold me accountable.
JULIA GILLARD: Obviously what I'm saying on behalf of the whole Government is that we gave a commitment for independent oversight and guidelines. We have in place today independent oversight and guidelines.
JOURNALIST: But your commitment didn't include the creation of a get-out clause whereby you could exempt yourself from the arrangements, did it?
JULIA GILLARD: Well the clause that was used in relation to the advertising for the Resources Super Profits Tax was a clause about timing and we believe as there is advertising obviously going to air, making claims about this debate, that it's important that Australians have access to the whole truth, all of the facts and that is why the Government is advertising.
JOURNALIST: Why is $38 million justified on your proposed tax which is a political policy and not the insulation scheme for example, where people's lives and homes were at risk?
JULIA GILLARD: We believe it's appropriate to get the facts into the hands of people. This is a big change. We believe it's important for people to have the facts about the Resources Super Profits Tax. The mineral wealth in our grounds is there for all Australians. It doesn't belong to one person or one company and when we are talking about tax arrangements for that mineral wealth that we all jointly own and jointly share, we believe it's important that Australians have access to the full story, to the full facts about what is being proposed.
And what is being proposed means we will be investing in the long term wealth of this country, cutting company tax, giving small business tax incentives, investing in superannuation changes which will make a difference for the retirement income of working Australians.
JOURNALIST: Would it not have been more urgent for Australians to have access to information about insulation when they were worried about fires in their roofs?
JULIA GILLARD: And in relation to insulation, we provided and continue to provide information to Australians and the ability for any Australian who is concerned to contact the government hotline and to receive information.
JOURNALIST: Why couldn't you have convened an emergency meeting of your communications committee in order to approve these ads?
JULIA GILLARD: Well the Special Minister of State, Joseph Ludwig, obviously looked at this matter and determined it was appropriate to use the exemption clause, the timing emergency clause that has been used. That is, as we all know, mining companies have a lot of money, they have been crystal clear that they will fund a lot of advertising. That advertising will be going to air shortly on television screens, on radio, we've already seen examples of advertising, including print advertising.
We believe in these circumstances at the same time, it is appropriate for Australians to hear from the Australian Government and to get the full facts.
JOURNALIST: Just on the BER, have you found anything so far from the Orgill process that would cause you to reassess, reconsider the conditions surrounding the release of the third tranche of funding?
JULIA GILLARD: I have met with Mr Orgill. I will continue to meet with him regularly. We are obviously all ears for his recommendations. At this stage I am not in possession of any recommendations from Mr Orgill that would relate to the third tranche of funds.
But let's be clear about the third tranche of funds. Obviously it's being made available to block grant authorities to the authorities that administer education on behalf of our various school systems state, Catholic and independent. We are continuing to work with block grant authorities and we will be continuing to press on value for money questions.
Mr Orgill's recommendations to government, we're all ears to hear them and as this program continues to roll out we will be in a position to receive Mr Orgill's advice and recommendations and to implement that advice and recommendations. This is a program that will run almost for a full two years from where we are now so there is time to implement recommendations from Mr Orgill's Implementation Taskforce.
JOURNALIST: On Morris Iemma, he says that Kevin Rudd broke that deal with him. Do you trust Kevin Rudd any better than Morris Iemma does and why should we trust Kevin Rudd?
JULIA GILLARD: Well obviously in relation to the claims about privatisation, as I've made clear, the Prime Minister supported privatisation.
JOURNALIST: But Morris Iemma says he was given an undertaking that the Prime Minister would actually help him campaign and the Prime Minister said at the end, no it's a state issue, I can't get involved. It's a bit different saying on the record I support this or not.
JULIA GILLARD: The Prime Minister on the record and consistently supported privatisation.
On the question of trust, let's be very clear about the question of trust and things that matter to Australian working families.
I mean, who do you trust to deliver workplace relations in this country? Mr Abbott and the party of Work Choices or Mr Rudd and the political party that ended Work Choices and replaced it with Fair Work.
Who do you trust to deal with child care? The party that allowed ABC Learning to grow in a market that they let rip or Mr Rudd and the Government that have sorted out ABC Learning piece by piece including today's announcement.
Who do you trust on the question of health care? Mr Abbott who ripped $1 billion out of our health care system or Prime Minister Rudd who's in the process of implementing the single biggest change to health since Medicare.
And in my own area or education, who do you trust? Mr Abbott and the Howard Government and political party that neglected education year after year or the Prime Minister and the Government that's delivered more change and more reforms in education over a two and a half year period than were delivered in the 12 years before.
JOURNALIST: Since you raised the question of trust, usually I talk to people and they look my in the eye and they tell me what they are going to do.
JULIA GILLARD: Right.
JOURNALIST: So on the question of trust.
JULIA GILLARD: We just got the television cameras filming this conversation as you would know.
JOURNALIST: Well Kevin Rudd looked me in the eye and said that he wouldn't do the same as John Howard did on advertising. Kevin Rudd looked the country in the eye and said that he was going to act on climate change. You and Kevin Rudd looked the country in the eye and said you were going to end the double drop off. So where do you stand on the question of trust with voters out there disappointed with your broken promises?
JULIA GILLARD: I think I've already addressed the question of advertising. The second one was?
JOURNALIST: Climate change and the double drop off.
JULIA GILLARD: OK, so I've addressed the question of advertising.
On the question of climate change the Government and the Prime Minister have been clear. We are obviously disappointed that progress around the world was not what we would have liked. We're also disappointed that by one vote we lost bipartisanship as a result of a leadership change in the Liberal Party.
In these circumstances we're continuing to address climate change, particularly by investing in renewable energy including the biggest solar project in the world.
On the question of the 220 child care centres, I've been clear, Minister Ellis has been clear. When we campaigned in 2007 and gave that commitment we did not know that ABC Learning was going to collapse. ABC Learning did collapse with all of the risks for our child care market more than 1000 centres, 62,000 kids, 13,000 staff. There could have been chaos parents turning up to locked centres with their children in their arms not knowing what they were going to do with their child when they needed to get to work; staff battering on the doors to find out what had happened with their employment.
We have sorted that out and sorted it through. It's taken time, it's taken resources, it's profoundly changed our child care sector and our child care market and given those big changes we believed it was appropriate to reassess whether it was right to inject 220 new centres into the child care sector and we decided that it wasn't.
I believe Australians understand when there has been a significant change in the facts and circumstances that you're dealing with, the prudent course is to obviously assess the best way forward with those new facts and new circumstances and that's exactly what we did.
Thank you.
ENDS.