Jason Clare speaks out following Maroubra long day care fire 

Federal Minister for Education, Jason Clare, held a press conference on Tuesday in response to what he termed ‘a horrific and sickening attack’ on a long day care service which had antisemitic overtones. 

“Obviously, the top priority is catching the criminals responsible for this, but I just want to use this opportunity to give a bit of an update from an education portfolio perspective on the actions that my department, the Commonwealth Department of Education, is taking on this matter,” the Minister said.

“In particular, to help the Centre and to help the families that have children at the Centre, like we do when there’s a natural disaster, a bushfire or a flood or something like that, today, my department has declared a child care subsidy (CCS) period of emergency for this centre.”

As such, the service will continue to receive CCS funding while it undergoes investigation and repair, with gap fees for parents waived. Both measures, the Minister assured, will be “in place for as long as it takes.” 

Minister Clare also announced that any costs to rebuild the centre that aren’t covered by insurance will be covered on a 50/50 basis by the Australian Government and the NSW Government.

The Minister went on to express his concern about the brazen nature of the attack, saying it was concerning that a service which caters for children and families was targeted. 

“What sort of scumbag would attack a child care centre? You’ve really got to ask yourself that question,” he said. 

“There is no place in this country for the poison of antisemitism. In the lifetime of my grandparents, we’ve seen the pure evil that it can wreak and there is no place for it in this country or, to be frank, anywhere else.”

When asked by a journalist if long day care services which are located near to places of worship needed special protection, the Minister said the Government has allocated a bit over $57 million to help provide extra security for places of worship, but also schools and preschools, “so the funding is there to provide that sort of security wherever we think that it’s needed.”

“It’s terrible,” he continued. 

“We can’t let what’s happening on the other side of the world tear us apart here. We’re the best country in the world. And a big part of that is because we’re a country made up of people from all around the world, all different backgrounds and religions and cultures living here in harmony. This is the absolute opposite of that.”