Dear Sir/Madam,

I am making a submission regarding: The Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill 2012.

I have concerns about a lot of the Bill, however my main concern is the forced child care from age 3.

Initially I took my twin boys to Play Centre where the supervisor constantly urged me to leave the premises and she would look after my children.  But they were my children and I knew them far better than she did.  The staff were run off their feet with so many children to look after.  Why would they do a better job than me, where it was a 2:1 child/adult ratio rather than a 20:1 ratio at the play centre?  It is not possible and judging by the tears from some children as their mothers deserted them, it DID NOT work.

I think the Bill is taking away a parents’ human right to raise their children.  I strongly disagree that children so young (3 years) need to be in Early Childhood Centre.  A full-time mother and homemaker is a legitimate career choice.  There are plenty of mothers who choose to send their children to Day Care Centres.  It is their choice.  It should not be compulsory.

The government should not be raising our children. The free child care should be a choice, not something that is forced upon us.

This bill is coercive and it breaches human rights.  I ask that it be totally rejected.

Yours faithfully

Full-time mother of 15 year old twin boys