Pharmacy Daily | Childcare costs hit pharmacy workers

RISING costs of childcare are impacting pharmacists' ability to maintain full-time working hours, an Australian Labor Party (ALP) MP is warning.

Speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday, Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training, Lisa Chester, raised concerns over the impact childcare costs are having on the Australian workforce.

Chester noted that under the Coalition Government's three terms in office, childcare fees have increased by 34%.

"Once you're trying to pay for two children in early childhood education it's just not worth it," she said.

"This system is rigged against mums and dads who want to work full-time.

"Once you have two parents on dual incomes working full time, the fees become so unaffordable that one parent ends up staying home or dropping back to part-time work.

"I've had pharmacists speak to me about this.

"I've had public servants speak to me about this.

"One mental health nurse said that, once her youngest finished early childhood education, she actually received more money and was better off financially with both her children enrolled in school."

ALP MP, Dr Mike Freelander, accused the Government of having "a complete and utter lack of understanding of the needs of working parents and young and new families", when it came to providing support for childcare and early childhood education.

Responding to criticism of the Government's support of the childcare sector, Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said changes implemented under the Coalition "have enabled Australia's workforce participation to rise to record levels".

"In particular they have enabled Australia's workforce to reach levels of female participation that this country has never seen before," he said.