Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called on Minister Gillard to urgently intervene in the abrupt closure of two suburban childcare centres in Adelaide yesterday, and remind the industry of its obligations to parents and children as a major sell-off of 241 centres begins today.

Local Kids, which runs 16 centres across South Australia, is owned by Doug Lomas, who’s other childcare centres CFK and TenFour are victims of the recent ABC Learning collapse.

“Only last month, we heard Minister Gillard warning that a minimum of 30 days notice was required to inform both the parents and employees of any impending childcare centre closure,” said Senator Hanson-Young  

“Yet the question remains - If there has to be 30 days’ notice of closure – why have these two centres in Adelaide had their locks changed and left workers and parents with no where to go?

“It is appalling to think that once again, parents have been left in the lurch, expected to find alternative options for care of their children.

“This is not an isolated case.  Centres across the country have been closing since November because of their connection to the ABC Learning Company and directors, and yet they have not received any Government support or attention.

“This is not good enough - Minister Gillard is missing in action, leaving parents to pick up the pieces.

Senator Hanson-Young said that the launch of toady’s ‘sale’ of the 241 Government-supported ABC Learning centres has again highlighted the need for the Government to ensure there is adequate diversity in child care provision in this country.

“Let’s hope this is a genuine restructure of the industry, not merely a fire sale that leads to ABC Mark II,” she said.

“It is not good enough just to get not-for-profit operators to apply through the advertisements.  The Minister must have a plan to help them buy the centres through a capital grants fund.

“Not-for-profit operators must be given a leg-up if they are to be successful in owning these centres.

“Diversity will ensure that the child care industry is protected from any future chaos.

Media contact: Emily Johnson on 0427 604 760