Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I repeat: when members opposite were in government they froze the childcare rebate and this government has done no more than what the former government was prepared to do with benefits in this area. If it was right for the former government to do things like freeze the rebate, why isn't it right for this government, likewise, to do what it has done.

I do say that, for all the histrionics that we are getting from the shadow minister who asked the question, members opposite have an absolutely hopeless record. They promised 260 childcare centres to end the dreaded double drop. Remember that? They promised to end the double drop with 260 childcare centres; 38 is all they built.

Under members opposite, childcare costs increased by 53 per cent—53 per cent! We want to see a better childcare system. We want to ensure that our childcare spending gets the maximum possible benefits to our community and to our economy. That is why we have a Productivity Commission inquiry. As for Paid Parental Leave, all this government wants is for the same sort of system that currently applies to public servants, who get paid at their wage—the same fairness that members opposite think should apply to public servants—to apply to everyone, because if it is right for public servants it is right for the rest of our community.

I do not see why members opposite should want a better deal for public servants than they want for the ordinary battling, struggling workers of this country. What is fair for public servants is fair for everyone. That is why this government supports a fair dinkum Paid Parental Leave scheme.

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