ALP Candidate for Forde, Mr Brett Raguse, said Labor’s plan to rationalise child care waiting lists will save parent’s time and worry.

“Labor will work with local governments to develop a single waiting list for childcare places in the Forde electorate.

“One phone call, one list - that’s our plan to save parents some time. More time spent with our children can only be a good thing,” he said.

“Parents know how time-consuming it is to call up 17 different childcare centres and put their names down on every list.

“And it’s pointless duplication for the childcare centres themselves.

“Labor’s single waiting list plan is in addition to another time-saving plan – building 260 extra childcare centres on primary school grounds, where possible, to end the double-drop-off.

“It makes sense for parents, governments and childcare providers to have single local waiting lists. We'll have a much better idea of where the need is greatest in our local area,” he said.

Other proposals by Labor to ease the child care crisis include:

• With a Commonwealth investment of $450 million, Labor will give all four year olds an entitlement to 15 hours of preschool or early learning per week, for a minimum of 40 weeks per year, delivered by a qualified teacher.
• Labor will fully fund 1,500 new university places in early childhood education, at a cost of $34 million per year.
• We will pay half the HECS repayments of 10,000 early childhood graduates working in areas of need, at a cost of $12 million per year.
• We will also get rid of TAFE fees for childcare trainees