Even if a central waitlisting system could alleviate some of the frustration with finding a childcare place, at the end of the day there are just not enough inner-city spots to go around.
This is due to land availability and zoning issues, according to federal Early Childhood and Child Care Minister Kate Ellis.
A spokeswoman for Ms Ellis said the federal government has no limit on the number of childcare spots it will fund with the childcare rebate, so demand is increasing while supply isn’t keeping pace.
“We are trying to rattle the cage a little and get states and territories moving on this issue because unfortunately the ball is in their court on this. Local governments have crazy regulations in place prohibiting new centres opening up rather than encouraging it,” she said.
“The wearying wait for inner-city childcare”, Clarissa Keil (The Age)
Liam McNicholas 