Friday 24 June 2022 01:54 AM Anthony Albanese extends Covid childcare payment easing cost of living pressure ... trends now Huge cost of living win for Australian parents as government extends major childcare payment for another year Federal government to extend major childcare payments to June 2023 It means parents won't be out of pocket if their kid is away with Covid or the flu The number of allowed absences is also kept at 52, 10 higher than pre-pandemic By Ben Talintyre For Daily Mail Australia Published: 01:46 BST, 24 June 2022 | Updated: 01:51 BST, 24 June 2022 Viewcomments Australian parents have been handed a major win just before tax time after Anthony Albanese announced the federal government would be waiving childcare gap fees for another year. The support measure was introduced back in July 2021, at the height of the pandemic, and meant childcare centres could waive gap fees and hold places for kids if parents needed to keep their children at home for a lockdown or due to them being sick. The gap fee is the difference between the Child Care Subsidy, which the government pays, and the remaining fee paid by the family. The original emergency childcare support measures brought in during the pandemic were due to expire next week but the payments will now be extended until June 2023. Federal government to extend major childcare payment to June 2023 in a major win for Australian families The number of days a child can be absent from childcare without losing their place will also be kept at 52 days in a year, 10 more than what was available pre-pandemic. Education Minister Jason Clare said the extension was 'common sense'. 'Keeping kids enrolled in childcare is good for them, good for families and good for the economy,' he said. Early Childhood Minister Anne Aly said the announcement shows the government prioritises early education. 'Early childhood education is an investment in our children, our youth, and our future,' she said. 'And I'm proud to be part of a government that understands the value of early childhood education and prioritises it.' Around 19 childcare centres across the country are temporarily closed each day due to Covid or flu outbreaks. The extension of the Covid support measures will ensure parents are not out of pocket if their kids get sick. Gap fees may also be waived if the child is absent as a result of an immediate household member being positive for Covid. Providers are also eligible for help if they are required to close or partially close due to staff illness. It means parents won't be out of pocket if their kid is away with Covid or the flu and the number of allowed absences is also to be kept at 52, 10 higher than pre-pandemic Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility