Stocker promises farm aid as childcare remarks follow him

Chancellor Christian Stocker continued his tour of Austria in Villach on Tuesday, where he faced questions about his controversial remarks that childcare was not work, ORF reported. The issue remained unresolved as he addressed citizens at the Villach Congress Center.

Unpaid family work performed by many women was expected to be a topic even before the public forum began. Stocker told journalists beforehand that he had not intended to hurt anyone with his statement.

He said the government needed to expand childcare significantly and close gaps in income and pensions, even if childcare could not be paid for directly.

“Childcare is an issue for the federal government because we are also massively expanding childcare with federal funds,” Stocker said. The government’s programme includes a second compulsory kindergarten year. Child-rearing periods are credited for up to four years per child, or up to five years in the case of multiple births.

Stocker said that if pension differences persisted despite these measures, the government would need to continue along the same path.

The forum also addressed the heat and extreme drought threatening the livelihoods of many farmers in Kärnten. The federal government promised assistance, including possible liquidity support, payment deferrals and other measures.

“It should be a comprehensive package that genuinely supports agriculture during this period,” Stocker said.