Families in Rockingham and Kwinana have returned to paying high childcare fees, according to the Government’s latest quarterly data.

The data shows that fees in Rockingham rose 5.9 per cent in the 12 months to December 2019, above the national increase of 4.6 per cent. Childcare fees for families in Kwinana were up 4.4 per cent.

The rate of inflation was 1.8 per cent in the same period.

The Morrison Government has chosen to lump local families with these fees again, by snapping back to its old childcare system with no extra support to bring down out-of-pocket costs.

Before the pandemic, out-of-pocket childcare costs were taking a huge chunk out of household budgets.

Now in the middle of a recession, when families are struggling to get by, these fees will be out of reach for many.

Families who have taken a pay cut over the past few months could be forced to give up childcare, and in turn parents will be forced to give up work.

If families are forced to withdraw their children from early learning, it is a worst-case scenario for everyone.

Parents will have to turn down work, children will miss out on early education, and providers will suffer from a drop in demand.