Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the Bradley Review’s call for greater income support for struggling tertiary students.

Among its 46 proposed changes, the Bradley Review of Higher Education recommends lowering the age of independence to 22 and allowing students to earn $400 a fortnight before payments are affected (up from $236 per fortnight at present).

“At a time when students are having to pay more than ever for their qualifications, they need to be better supported,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says a UNICEF report placing Australia third-last in the developed world for childcare is a timely sign that childcare in this country needs an urgent rethink.

UNICEF’s report, The Child Care Transition, ranked Australia 22nd out of 24 developed countries for childcare and early learning, meeting only two out of ten benchmarks.

“The collapse of ABC Learning showed up weaknesses and shortcomings in the Australian childcare sector, and now it’s been confirmed that we’re doing badly by international standards,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says that yesterday’s statement from Education Minister Julia Gillard has raised considerably more questions about the future of hundreds of ABC Learning centres.

Yesterday it was announced that 55 ABC Learning centres would close from December 31 this year, with another 241 to be propped up until March 31 2009 by with $34 million of Government money, despite them being considered unviable under the current business model.

“Parents and workers at hundreds of centres now face yet more uncertainty into 2009 in light of this statement,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

The Greens say that Education Minister Julia Gillard has given up too easily by allowing 55 ABC Learning centres to close and leaving a further 241 with an uncertain future beyond March 2009.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the Federal Government has delivered a cruel Christmas announcement for more than 100 childcare workers, while the assurances of alternative placement for children in nearby centres comes with riders.

“The Government is giving up too easily on the 55 centres that have been earmarked for closure - and more should be done to protect workers’ jobs and the parents and children affected,” she said.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says there are too many questions about the ABC Learning childcare crisis that have gone unanswered for weeks by Education Minister Julia Gillard.

ABC Learning appointed administrators on Thursday November 6. The Federal Government’s $22 million prop-up to keep ABC Learning centres open expires on December 31 this year. 386 ABC Learning centres have been marked as being ‘under operational review’, with an uncertain future in 2009.

“Parents and workers have waited far too long for answers from the Government on the fate of their centres,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the Federal Government has let down parents who are looking for answers on the future of their ABC Learning childcare centre.

Today in Question Time Senator Hanson-Young asked Senator Kim Carr, the Minister representing Education Minister Julia Gillard, when the Government would reveal its contingency plans for those ABC Learning centres with a doubtful outlook in 2009.

“Once again, the Government has refused to come forth with information that would provide some certainty and reassurance for mums, dads and childcare workers,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

“Today is the last day Minister Gillard has to level with the Parliament about her contingency plan, which has been touted as being in the works since October.