An Australian political candidate is pushing for a major rethink of the nation's childcare system, advocating for financial support for grandparents and tax breaks for families using nannies to create more flexible and affordable options for parents.
Call for a Broader Childcare Debate
ACT Liberal Senate candidate Nick Tyrrell, a father of two and small business owner, has urged a wider discussion on the future of childcare. This follows recent revelations about alleged failings within the ACT's childcare sector. Mr Tyrrell argues the focus should shift from mere compliance crackdowns to actively supporting diverse family choices.
"Instead of just another compliance crackdown that could burden good providers, let's have a broader debate about family options," Mr Tyrrell said. He emphasised that parents deserve alternatives tailored to shift work, cultural preferences, or personal needs beyond traditional, rigid centre-based care.
He pointed to international examples, noting that countries like France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK already lead the way by supporting family day care, in-home options, and involving grandparents.
Specific Proposals: Grandparent Pay and Nanny Support
Mr Tyrrell's proposals include two key measures. The first is compensating grandparents who provide regular care for their grandchildren, enabling their adult children to return to work. The second is extending childcare subsidies or offering tax offsets to families who employ nannies or au pairs.
He cited specific international models, such as France's nanny tax credits, which can cover up to 50 per cent of costs (capped at 12,000 Euro annually), and the Netherlands' system offering 96 per cent subsidies for low-income families using in-home care.
Mr Tyrrell connected local issues to systemic flaws in Australia's $16 billion Child Care Subsidy (CCS) system. He highlighted problems like high staff turnover rates of 25 to 37 per cent, skyrocketing fees where Canberra has the nation's highest average at over $800 per week, and access gaps affecting 35 per cent of regional families.
"As the Productivity Commission's 2024 report and ACCC reviews show, subsidies often inflate costs rather than improve quality, while burnout fuels misconduct," he stated. "Parents have a right to expect that the taxpayer-funded childcare subsidy system is fit for purpose and offers genuine childcare choices."
Canberra Mum Backs More Flexible Options
Canberra mother and full-time consultant Sheree Ireland strongly supports the call for more government-backed childcare alternatives. As the primary income earner for her family, Ms Ireland wanted to return to her role as an executive director.
Her son, eight-month-old Chase, currently attends a long-day care centre four days a week from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm—a schedule she finds lengthy. One day a week, Chase is cared for by his grandfather.
Ms Ireland explored other options, including a nanny or a co-working space with an on-site nanny service like Bubba Desk. However, the childcare centre remained the most affordable choice due to government subsidies.
Her ideal scenario would involve Chase in daycare two days a week, one day with his grandfather, and two days at a subsidised co-working space. "It would mean I could work at my desk, book a meeting room, and still be close to him throughout the day," she said, calling such support a "gamechanger."
On the topic of grandparent payments, Ms Ireland noted her father is a massive support, also caring for her two nieces during holidays. "He doesn't ask for anything but having that compensation could mean being able to give him something and maybe opening up the possibility of him doing more days," she said, acknowledging that grandparents frequently "pick up a lot of the slack" for Canberra families.
The proposals put forward signal a growing demand for a more adaptable and family-centric childcare system in Australia, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all model to better meet the diverse needs of modern working parents.
