A study from the University of Queensland (UQ) has found that tight food budgets, where the amount of budget available to be spent feeding young children is limited, may inadvertently be encouraging unhealthy “fussy” eating habits in children.

Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Development Amanda Rishworth has accused the current Federal Government of “trying to hide the impact their unfair child care changes are having on vulnerable Australian children”.

Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan yesterday released a statement outlining his position on “ensuring the integrity of family day care (FDC)” through the cancellation of Child Care Subsidy (CCS) provider approvals through what he termed “21 dodgy day care operators”.

Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Amanda Rishworth, has spoken out against statements made by Australian Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg last night, saying he “flat out lied to Australian families about the soaring price of childcare under the Liberal Government”.

Both Tanya Plibersek, Shadow Minister for Education, and Amanda Rishworth, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Development, have hit back against last week’s Budget announcement, outlining the lack of long-term secured funding for four year old kindergarten, the lack of inclusion for funded learning for three year olds, and the impact of the cost of childcare as “a cruel hoax for Australian families”.