Federal Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland, has called on Blacktown residents to stand up to the Liberals on Blacktown Council and rally against their proposed closure of childcare centres.

The United Services Union will be hosting a rally before the Council meeting on 30 October 2013 from 6pm at the Village Green in Blacktown.

Ms Rowland said it was becoming clearer by the day that the Liberals on Blacktown Council want to close down council-run childcare centres and the community needed to send a clear message to the Liberals to keep them open.

“For families in my electorate, access to affordable childcare is of paramount concern. I know this now from personal experience as a local resident and a mother who utilises local childcare services,” Ms Rowland said.

“If Council’s childcare centres are privatised we will see higher costs for parents, diminished access to a variety of childcare services and job losses.

“I am calling on all residents in the Blacktown local government area to stand up and send a clear message to the Liberals on Blacktown Council that these assets should stay in community hands and stay open.”

Ms Rowland said all levels of government have a special responsibility to ensure that future generations get the best start in life.

“Our part of West and North-West Sydney is Australia’s nursery; it is the responsibility of all community leaders and governments to stand up for the future of children, parents and carers, and I urge all Councillors to reject any proposal to privatise these centres.”

ROWLAND CALLS ON COMMUNITY TO RALLY AGAINST CLOSURE OF CHILDCARE CENTRES