Our electorate of Cowper is considered a “childcare desert” – where there are more than three children per place. The seat has been used as a case study by advocacy group The Parenthood, which is putting the spotlight on childcare inequity in rural and regional Australia ahead of the federal election on May 3. 

Keeping the score

A political scorecard, based on the major parties’ policy commitments, was released this month by The Parenthood. It factored in quality, cost and availability of childcare. 

"Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Nambucca Heads see the worst provision of services, with up to six children competing for one childcare place,” Campaigns Director at The Parenthood, Maddy Butler, told the Mid North Coaster.

"The lack of early learning services is having a flow-on effect onto other essential services including health, with midwives and nurses among the parents who cannot return to work as they can't access childcare."

CEO Georgie Dent said the scorecard will help families make informed decisions around early childhood education and care. 

“The cost and availability of early childhood education and care will be a key determinant of families’ household budgets from election day and beyond,” Dent said.

Recommendations

“Our vision for 2025 and beyond is to work with whoever next takes government to deliver a high quality, inclusive early learning system in Australia where all children have the opportunities to participate no matter their parents’ circumstances.”

The Parenthood identified seven key policy recommendations to deliver a universal high-quality early childhood education and care system in Australia.

The results of the scorecard below show Greens have committed to implementing all seven recommendations, Labor has fully or partially committed to six, and the Coalition has partially committed to two. 

Dent said progress had been made under the current government, including higher wages for educators and guaranteed access to early learning for all children.

On the flipside, Dent said: “The Coalition have shown signs they may be open to funding higher wages for early childhood educators and increasing funding for Aboriginal Community Controlled Centres, but are yet to reveal their positions on all other policy recommendations, despite our prompting.” 

Cowper candidate commitments

As part of a case study on Cowper, The Parenthood completed a scorecard based on commitments made by local candidates or their political party.

Parenthood representatives liaised directly with the candidates.

It showed the Greens and Independent candidate for Cowper, Caz Heise, were committed to all seven key recommendations.

Labor committed to three, partially committed to another three, but made no commitment to establishing a national body responsible for rolling out a universal early learning system.

The Liberal/National Coalition, represented in Cowper by sitting MP, Pat Conaghan (National Party), has shown no commitment to four of the seven recommendations. It was partially committed to two, and had no policy on increasing the number of childcare places in childcare deserts.  

The Parenthood said the "no policy" statement was because the Liberals have made some efforts to improve childcare deserts in some areas but not made any set in stone policy commitments.

We asked Cowper candidates to expand on their childcare commitments

Independent – Caz Heise

Independent candidate for Cowper, Caz Heise said no area in Cowper had enough places to meet demand for childcare.

“In many parts of the electorate, there are seven children for every one childcare spot. This simply isn’t good enough,” Heise said.

“These statistics paint a stark picture: parents in Cowper are being forced out of the workforce or left struggling to balance work and care, while children miss out on crucial early learning opportunities.”

Heise has a background in healthcare and has seen first hand where new parents are forced to reduce hours or leave the workforce because they can’t access childcare.

“This only deepens workforce shortages and adds even more pressure to an already overstretched health system.”

The Greens – Wendy Firefly 

The Greens Party has a plan for early childhood education.

Greens candidate for Cowper, Wendy Firefly, said The Greens wants to simplify the process in accessing childcare. 

“[The party] wants to implement free public owned childcare so care is put before profit and all parents have the time to work or study if they choose, not just families who can afford it,” Firefly told the Mid North Coaster.

“We need more child care facilities that could be run by local councils and attached to primary schools across the region.”

The Mid North Coaster sought comment from Cowper MP Pat Conaghan and Labor candidate Greg Vigors but did not receive a response before publication. The article will be updated as required.

Candidates forum in Cowper

The Parenthood hosted a Candidates and Families Forum on March 29 in Nambucca Heads, stating early childhood education and care can be virtually impossible to access in the area.

Local candidates were invited to hear from the community.

The following Cowper candidates attended:

Caz Heise, Independent

Greg Vigors, Labor

Chris Walsh, One Nation

Wendy Firefly, The Greens

Megan Mathew, Legalise Cannabis Party

Family First Cowper candidate Peter Jackel declined the invitation, as did Pat Conaghan, The Nationals (Incumbent). The Parenthood told the Mid North Coaster that Conaghan sent through a video message in lieu of his attendance.