OTB, if we paid everyone the same, where do we set the pays, at the top, the bottom, or the middle.

Then, if you get paid the same for a low skilled job, what's the point in advanced education?

As for child care fees, they're a joke. Always have been, always will be.

It's just further proof that the whole system is arse up, because if you don't work you can have your kids in CC for free, paid for by the ones who do work.

rehctub,

I am not suggesting that everyone be paid the same. Some comparisons are useful though in the hope of dragging this discussion out of the usual rut.

As many would realise, the government has no money of its own. All that money is taken compulsorily from the Australian taxpayer. I would like to see value for money always being obtained for those taxpayers' dollars.

Consumers of government benefits need to realize that there is no bottomless bucket of 'guvvy' money. When they demand more and enhanced services such as for child care, they must also realise that the money has to be taken from somewhere else.

When parents demand a superior service to what they would likely be providing at home themselves and to top it off a risk-free environment for their children they must be honest about that and frank about where they reckon savings can be made elsewhere.

Why would most workers imagine that their own work, and I gave some examples earlier, should always be paid more than the *professionals responsible for the superior, high-skilled, risk-free services they are demanding for their children? Why do they imagine that a child care worker could manage a higher number of children and better than they themselves might be capable of?

*professionals - accredited, how else to meet the applicable Standards, government regulations and insurers' requirements?

To cut to the chase, of course parents should be paying for what they are demanding. A similar example might be the person who demands expensive traffic calming in her street but moans about increases in Council rates.

While some politicians appeal to populism while in opposition, or as a protest party (Greens), it is very different when they are required to balance a federal Budget where there are very few 'discretionary' expenditure dollars available.

Of course childcare at the standard and availability expected and demanded by parents is hugely expensive. I am only surprised that so many imagine that their own routine, precedent-driven and most likely 'all care and no responsibility' jobs are worth more. How unrealistic is that?

I still need to have it explained to me why women on supporting parents benefits, that is, paid by the taxpayer to mind their own kids, should have any access to child care.

If there is some reason they should at least pay back the money they were paid to mind their kids, for the same number of days.

Because they feel entitled Hasbeen and because they are very likely warring against their extended family* who might help if they reciprocated in some way.

*extended family - especially his (PAS).

Ok onthebeach, so tell me, why should one mother who earns say $120K per year, pay more to have her child looked after than one on say $30K per year?

After all, it's the same staff doing the same job and the child receives the same level of care.

This whole rob from the rich to look after the poor system we have is the catilyst of the right of entitlement issue so many today rely on. It's time they be wiened off the tax payer tit.

If you really do want a fair system, Children, regardless of where they are from should be treated equally.

recthub I have to agree, I get some Parenting payment at the moment that tops up the income of my hubby. I am not employed because I choose to spend my time at home with my kids. But I got a letter from Centrelink to say that I am eligible for 24hrs of childcare for my son who isn't yet in school. Essentially that means I can sit at home on my butt and receive parenting payment while the government pays for my children to be in childcare. I think the Government should subsidize childcare based on the amount of hours someone works. Regardless of how much they are earning at the time. That way the people working and paying taxes are the ones getting the benefits. Also, it may help free up the childcare system a little from the children who are there to give mummy a break.