Australia PM Morrison announces $973 million package for childcare sector

By Pete Schroeder and David Henry Posted on April 1, 2020

Australian Prime Minister Morrison speaks during a joint press conference at Admiralty House in Sydney

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday said the country’s childcare sector will get A$1.6 billion ($973 million) over the next three months from taxpayer subsidies in a package that would make childcare in the country free.

“We will be putting in place support arrangements to the childcare facilities, some 13,000 of them, to ensure they will be able to remain open and will be there for parents to ensure they can do what they need to do each day,” Morrison said in Canberra.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Tom Hogue)