Fed: Howard unveils families package ahead of budget

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2004
Fed: Howard unveils families package ahead of budget

CANBERRA, April 8 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard has been accused of ignoring the
crisis in child care after announcing a major families package.

Welfare groups will be funded to intervene in problem families and cash incentives
offered to set up long daycare centres under the package.

The Stronger Families and Community Strategy will receive $365 million over four years
- up from $226 million - to target early intervention for children at risk of abuse, child
obesity and parent education.

However, the real sweetener will come with an extra 20,000 child-care places to be
announced in next month's Budget.

Mr Howard said the program was built on the twin concepts of a social coalition and
early intervention.

But critics have accused the government of failing to address the crisis in child care.

Opposition family spokesman Wayne Swan said the government was holding back on 28,000
new child-care places until election eve to score political points.

AAP mfh/hu/br x

KEYWORD: FAMILY DAYLEAD

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