Moncrieff Media
Local parents left into limbo when ABC Learning Centre Nerang closes its door
10 December 2008
Forty-seven Gold Coast families face an uncertain future with ABC Learning Centre Nerang being forced to shut its doors on 31 December.
The embattled childcare giant announced 55 centres will close this month, including the Nerang facility on Crusader Way, and a further 241 centres face the prospect of closing in March 2009 after being identified as unviable.
Local MP Steven Ciobo said it was devastating news for Gold Coast families just a couple of weeks before Christmas.
“The Rudd Labor Government has backed itself into a corner through its mismanagement in allowing the uncertainty surrounding ABC Learning Centres to drag on, despite claiming months ago they had a contingency plan in place,” Mr Ciobo said.
“Just two weeks before Christmas, it was imperative to provide certainty for Gold Coast families going into the New Year.
“There is now a cloud of uncertainly hanging over the heads of 47 families with children at ABC Learning Centre Nerang.
“How far from home or work with local parents now have to travel to drop their children off to childcare, and will they be forced back onto a waiting list first"
“The Rudd Labor Government has guaranteed to find places for all children left without childcare, but there a many questions that remain unanswered.
“Local childcare places are already stretched. What impact is the closure of the Nerang ABC Learning Centre going to have on local childcare?
“We’re already at a stage where Gold Coast parents are putting their name on waiting lists before their child is even born.”
Australian taxpayers will have to pay an extra $34 million to keep 241 unviable centres across Australia open until March 2009.
ABC Learning is Australia’s largest childcare provider, and has 42 centres on the Gold Coast.
About 25 per cent of all long day care in Australia is conducted through ABC Learning and the company receives 44 per cent of its revenue from Federal Government subsidies.