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The doors will stay open until at least next month at our local ABC Learning Centres. Following the financial collapse of the company nationwide, hundreds of ABC Centres are facing closure around the country including the four in the Gladstone Region - Toolooa Street, Beak Street, Sun Valley Road and at Parkside Street Tannum Sands. Earlier this month, the Federal Government stepped in with a short-term financial package to provide ABC with $22 million in emergency funding to keep the doors open until at least 31st December. "ABC is an important part of the child care infrastructure throughout Flynn and in Australia generally" Member for Flynn Chris Trevor said. "That's why my Government has moved quickly to provide ABC with $22 million in emergency funding to keep the doors open while the receiver undertakes a comprehensive review of the groups operations." "I am not about to let the mums and dads of Flynn down, and this funding should provide working families some certainty while a more permanent solution is found" Mr Trevor said. "My job now is to work with the local ABC Centres to ensure that workers, parents and children are not disadvantaged." Proprietor of the locally owned daycare centre, Port City Kids, June McIntyre, confirmed her staff had received a number of inquiries from parents seeking places for next year in the event their ABC Centre closed down. "There have been several calls from parents who are worried they may not have a child care place at their ABC Learning Centre next year," Mrs McIntyre said. "Unfortunately our waiting lists are already quite full for the baby and toddler rooms and we have to give priority to those who are already on the list. However, the waiting lists for the 3 and 4 year old rooms aren't quite as long so we may have positions available next year." The Federal Government has also established a hotline to provide information to affected parents. The hotline number is 180 2003. It's envisaged the Federal Government will be in a position to make further announcements about the future of ABC centres by mid December. |
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ABC Centre on Sun Valley Road, Kin Kora.| Next Edition 29 November 2008 |
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