Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare, Women and Youth) Share this | Hansard source

No, this is not becoming a debacle. What is a debacle—and you should know this—is that families are suffering because the manner in which the ABC Learning Centres has been handled has been a disgrace and parents have been left in the lurch. This woman now has her child in child care for two days in a local centre and one day in the city, which breaks up that child’s care and attention.

Hundreds of potential buyers have pulled out of final offer stages for ABC Learning Centres because they were not provided with details and correct information, and this is despite the minister’s assurances last month. It seems centres like Altona North, which were told they had a confirmed buyer, continue to face uncertainty. Now they are closing and the government needs to explain why there has been such a long line of bungles in the whole tender process for this centre in Altona North—and I correct myself—which is in the health minister’s electorate. This constituent of the minister for health has had no satisfactory response. The government has not responded adequately as to why it has allowed this debacle. (Time expired)

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