ACCC commences inquiry into early childhood education and care pricing

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has started its inquiry into early childhood education and care (ECEC) prices by publishing a consultation schedule, which is now available on the ACCC website.

The inquiry will examine and consider matters including:

• costs and availability of labour
• the use of land and related costs
• finance and administrative costs
• regulatory compliance costs
• the costs of consumables
• the prices charged since 2018 and how these have changed following changes in childcare policy settings.

The ACCC will examine how costs and prices differ by:

• type of provider and size
• type of childcare service
• age and characteristics of the child in care
• geographic location
• level of competition
• the quality rating of the childcare services provided.

How these factors impact ECEC provider viability, quality and profits will also be examined.

Throughout the consultation process a range of stakeholders will engage with the ACCC on a range of information gathering activities. Stakeholders will include: 

• small, medium and large child care providers in metropolitan, regional and remote areas
• parents and carers
• educators and workforce participants
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities 
• people with children who have a disability or complex needs. 

The ACCC will provide an interim report to the Treasurer by 30 June 2023, and its final report by 31 December 2023.

To view the consultation schedule, please visit the ACCC website.