Fiona Scott (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Deputy Speaker Hawke, it is wonderful to see you here today, as a fellow comrade from Western Sydney. I am here to ask a question of the Minister for Social Services. I would like to applaud his work in this portfolio, and applaud his work as a minister of this government over nearly the past two years. Deputy Speaker, being a native of Western Sydney, you know we are home to some of the youngest families in Australia. In fact, Lindsay is the tenth youngest electorate in the country, with a median age of 32. More than 50 per cent of households have dependent children. As a result, the government has spent considerable time in the electorate, launching a $40 billion package over the next four years to give the nation's 1.2 million families better access to child care. Part of the package is to assist up to 240,000 extra families back into the workforce. This is great news. The $246 million package two-year pilot nanny scheme was announced in the electorate of Lindsay—Deputy Speaker, you were also there on that day. This scheme has been met with a lot of applause from the local shift worker community who are looking to keep their jobs, work for their children and have choice about the things they need for their families. I think that is really important, and that is what is so wonderful about the scheme that the minister has provided. This is about giving people opportunities to work, rather than stealing opportunities away from people. We are providing people with opportunity.

Mr Deputy Speaker, we have received a lot of feedback from the community and I would really like to share with you some of the feedback that has come into my office. For instance, Hannah Redwood Blundy posted on my Facebook page:

I think this is wonderful. I was working in fdc—

family day care—

and often had trouble in placing children for nurses, doctors, police officers and even down to counsellors.

But it is more than just nannies; it is widespread reform to deliver affordable and fairer childcare right across the board. More people will get more access through a fairer distribution of rebates. These new measures, once in place, will make it possible for every four-year-old to attend childcare, and that is wonderful news.

For instance, another local lady who has contacted my office is Lyndal Callaghan, who works as a childcare teacher and has a three-month-old daughter. At an announcement with the Prime Minister, the Minister for Social Services and the Minister for Education and Training recently, where these measures were welcomed, she said:

Early childhood is the foundation of lifelong learning. It sets them—

children—

up for the future and early childhood and preschool teaching is very important for children's literacy and numeracy skills.

She is not alone. The overwhelming response to the reforms has been very positive. Recently, we surveyed the electorate—extensively telephone canvassing many people—and the messages were loud and clear. People liked quality care and they wanted to see more simplicity right across the system. That is what the minister is doing.

Another lady that we spoke to—Vicki Skoulogenis, who operates the Mulgoa Preschool and the Alasan Cottage Preschool—told me that she welcomes the new initiatives of flexibility for both parents and their service providers. She said this will provide more options for children through these important stages of their life. Moreover, Bianca and Norm Merchanda from Mulgoa welcomed the single streamlined payment for their family. They say it will make it easier to understand and apply for assistance as compared to the old CCB and CCR system. Renee Sophie from Minchinbury tells me, 'As a single mum, I am happy to see the safety net provided for me at those times when I am between jobs. I will still be able to continue child care under this initiative.' Carly Riddell from Glenmore Park takes another approach: 'I am happy to see the immunisation changes will further protect my five-year-old preschooler, which is comforting news with my newborn ahead.'

My question to the Minister for Social Services is about how the Abbott government is assisting families in my electorate with more affordable, accessible and flexible child care.

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