See text below.
EXCERPTS
Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew today announced changes to Child Care Benefit (CCB) rates and income thresholds.
The Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary also announced changes to the maximum amount of Child Care Tax Rebate (CCTR) available to working families.
From 1 July, around 800 000 Australian families will receive more help with child care costs following the indexation of child care rates and changes to income thresholds.
The maximum rate of CCB for one child using full-time approved child care will increase by $6.50 per week to $180.00, while the maximum amount of CCTR will increase to $7 778 per child per year. Further details attached:
The increases are linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 3.7 per cent for the 12 months to December 2008 and are in line with relevant legislation.
Families who nominate to receive their Child Care Tax Rebate payment quarterly will now be able to access their payment faster due to the national roll out of the new Child Care Management System (CCMS).
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Separately, the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care) Bill 2009 currently before the Parliament will change the name of the rebate from Child Care Tax Rebate (CCTR) to the Child Care Rebate (CCR).
This change is in recognition of the fact that the rebate is no longer a tax offset under taxation legislation but it is a benefit paid to families to assist with child care costs under the Family Assistance Law.
As outlined in the 2009-10 Budget, the Rudd Government will invest $2.5 million in 2009-10 to provide a child care estimator to help families make informed decisions about child care.
The Rudd Government is investing $12.8 billion over the next four years to help Australian families with the cost of child care.
The Child Care Tax Rebate (CCTR) will provide $4.4 billion over four years to assist working families with their out-of-pocket child care costs.
The Child Care Benefit (CCB) will deliver $8.4 billion over four years to reduce child care fees.
- reprinted from Australia.TO