The Greens say that Education Minister Julia Gillard has given up too easily by allowing 55 ABC Learning centres to close and leaving a further 241 with an uncertain future beyond March 2009.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the Federal Government has delivered a cruel Christmas announcement for more than 100 childcare workers, while the assurances of alternative placement for children in nearby centres comes with riders.

“The Government is giving up too easily on the 55 centres that have been earmarked for closure - and more should be done to protect workers’ jobs and the parents and children affected,” she said.

“Not-for-profit childcare providers should be given the opportunity to acquire these centres through a Capital Grants Fund, as proposed by the Greens.

“This would allow organisations, who possess the human resources and know-how, to move into ABC Learning’s purpose-built facilities and provide a continuity of care for the childcare in those 55 centres.

“The childcare sector is already in a state of turmoil – centres must not be closed needlessly.”

Senator Hanson-Young said there should be a stronger guarantee for placements for families left without a childcare centre.

“The receivers have said a placement is guaranteed if one is available, and if it is within 2.5 kilometres – that seems like less than a watertight guarantee and needs further explanation.

“What will this relocation do to carer-to-child ratios in the nearby centres?”

The Greens have launched a Senate Inquiry into the regulation of childcare in Australia and have called on the Government to use the Inquiry as an opportunity to fix the sector.

“While the receiver has expressed that he has ‘neither the time nor the inclination’ to investigate why ABC Learning collapsed, it is the responsibility of Government to ensure that this situation never happens again.

“The early education and care of our youngest children should never again be jeopardised by corporate greed and the whim of the market."