Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young hopes a roundtable meeting she is holding today with childcare providers will be an opportunity to hear first-hand what impact the collapse of ABC Learning is having on the childcare sector.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is urging the Federal Government to
ensure that the issue of childcare is high on the agenda at this week's
Australian Council of Local Governments, given the uncertainty in the
childcare sector following the collapse of ABC Learning.

More than 500 mayors will meet with key ministers in Canberra this week.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the agreement by state and
federal water ministers today to flood the Murray's lower lakes with
seawater in a worst-case scenario of low rainfall is an environmentally,
socially and economically disastrous option that should not be
considered.

Senator Hanson-Young said there were better options than saltwater

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the Federal Government must stay
closely involved in the transfer of ABC Learning Centres to new owners
and operators, and pointed to local government as part of the solution
to stabilising childcare in Australia.

So far the Government has not revealed what it will do beyond its $22

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young hopes to meet with Education Minister Julia Gillard for a briefing on the Government's contingency plan for dealing with the ABC Learning crisis, and to offer her support in holding an emergency summit on childcare in Australia.

The Greens have asked the Liberal and Labor parties to permit their senators to exercise a conscience vote when a move to allow same-sex marriage comes before the Senate today.

Pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to hold an emergency childcare summit, after the Senate today passed a Greens motion calling for one.

Senator Hanson-Young's motion to hold the summit was supported by the Senate this afternoon.

"It is encouraging that the Senate has recognised the importance of the care of our young children," said Senator Hanson-Young.

"Today the Senate has recognised that we need to move swiftly, bring together the key players in the sector, and gather the best information to fix this country's childcare woes.

The Greens are calling for a new Capital Grants Fund to be made available to potential new operators of ABC Learning Centres, as a way of solving the childcare crisis.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has urged the Federal Government to support her motion to hold an emergency summit on childcare, following vague responses to her questions to the Government in Question Time today.

Senator Hanson-Young asked Senator Kim Carr, the Minister representing Education Minister Julia Gillard in the Senate:

The Greens will tomorrow move in the Senate for the Federal Government to hold an emergency summit on the ABC Learning collapse, as a first step towards reforming childcare in Australia.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will move for the summit following the corporate collapse of ABC Learning last Thursday, and the Government's announcement on Friday of a $22 million prop-up of the company to keep ABC centres open until December 31.