New child care fund for disadvantaged

Almost $1 billion will be set aside in the budget for childcare services for disadvantaged children, called the early childhood safety net.

The federal government will spend $850 million on child care services to help disadvantaged children.

The new early childhood safety net will include extra subsidies for families and communities to set up childcare facilities and a program to attract staff to work at them.

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday told ABC TV the fund will help families in financial difficulty, those with children with disabilities and those in rural areas.