On 12 December 2013, the Senate referred the inquiry into the immediate future of the childcare sector in Australia to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by 17 June 2014. The committee agreed that submissions should be received by 14 March 2014.
On 17 June 2014, the committee received an extension to report by 15 July 2014. On 15 July 2014, the committee received a further final extension to report by 16 July 2014.
The immediate future of the childcare sector in Australia, with particular reference to:
- cost and availability for parents over the short term, including the effectiveness of the current government rebates;
- administrative burden, including the impact of the introduction of the National Quality Framework;
- the current regulatory environment and the impact on children, educators and service operators;
- how the childcare sector can be strengthened in the short term to boost Australia’s productivity and workplace participation for parents; and
- any related matters.