ABC children guaranteed places: receiver

The receiver for ABC Learning has guaranteed to find places for every child in the company's care, but the parents of 30,000 kids are no closer to knowing if their centres will close. Friday's guarantee came as Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard urged parents to be
patient, describing the financial accounts of Australia's largest childcare provider as "shambolic".
In a move to placate frustrated families, receiver Chris Honey, of McGrathNicol,
said he would find childcare places for every one of the 110,000 kids currently
enrolled at the failed company's 1,042 centres.
The offer would include spots for 30,000 children attending 386 centres, whose
futures remain in doubt beyond December 31.
Mr Honey previously said 656 centres would trade as normal next year and he had
hoped to provide further clarity on the 386 others this week.
But instead there was yet another appeal on Friday for parents to be patient as the
receiver works through the books.
"We all have to recognise that the receiver is undertaking an extremely difficult
job," Ms Gillard said.
"He has been working through the financial accounts and reports of the failed
company, which are shambolic."
Mr Honey said he would next week announce the plan to find all 110,000 ABC Learning
kids childcare places, and would detail plans for ABC Learning staff.
" ... together with the government, we are working positively towards securing a
childcare place for every ABC child next year and clarity about employment for ABC
staff," he said.
"It is very important this process be conducted carefully, to make sure it is given
the chance to provide the best possible outcome.
"It is vital, therefore, that we take a limited amount of extra time to ensure the
best outcome for all ABC children, their parents and ABC staff."
But the union representing many ABC Learning staff said Mr Honey's announcement
raised as many questions as it answered.
"We still don't know what the receiver's plan is for securing childrens' or workers'
positions," Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union national secretary
Louise Tarrant said.
"Parents are being told that there will be a secure position for their children next
year but there are no similar guarantees for workers.
"What we do know is how the important the bonds are between children and their carers."
Ms Tarrant said some children might be forced to attend a centre that was not
located near their home.
"Just to assume that children can be moved around like pieces in a puzzle, (that) is
obviously not the case," she said.
She said next week's announcement needed to give families and workers absolute
certainty about their jobs, entitlements and places.
The union is seeking talks with the receiver and government on Monday.
Federal opposition childcare spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella said the government was
making it hard for other childcare providers to assist.
She said national data on childcare vacancies had not been released since April 2007.
"The minister is telling the industry to make expressions of interest ... but how on
earth can they do this when they do not have the essential information?" she said.
ABC Learning went into receivership last month after registering debts of more than
$1 billion.