Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, announced last week councils would not be eligible for wage subsidies to support employees, handing responsibility for the support of Local Government’s workforce to the states.
“Local governments are not eligible for JobKeeper from the Commonwealth government … if there is support necessary for local governments that will be provided by the state and territory governments, not the Commonwealth government,” Mr Morrison said.
Local Government New South Wales (LGNSW) President, Councillor Linda Scott, has called on the Prime Minister to reverse his decision saying without it, council-run childcare centres across the state would close.
“That’s really bad news because local government is not only the largest provider of childcare and early education services in NSW – in some regional areas it is the only provider.
“It is absolutely critical that councils have access to the JobKeeper assistance package, not just to help them keep their childcare centres open but to keep council staff employed right across NSW.
“Councils want to keep as many staff in jobs as possible, so we can do our bit in keeping our local economies running.”
Cr Scott said local government needed access to the same job support packages the private sector had access to if councils were going to be able to do their bit.
“Local government needs access to JobKeeper payments so council-run childcare and preschool services operate on a level playing field with other providers, and rural and regional communities are not disadvantaged further.”
