Chris Crewther (Dunkley, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

There are 6,040 families in Dunkley who depend on child care so that they can go to work. Those opposite have irresponsibly put at risk these families in Dunkley, and families across Australia who use child-care providers, by blocking the omnibus bill—savings that would have funded the coalition government's child-care reforms. These reforms would mean a subsidy of 85 per cent for families earning under $65,000, abolishing the rebate cap of $7,500 for families earning up to $185,000 as well as increasing to $10,000 the rebate cap for families above that amount.

My office and I have been working with a local constituent Tamara, who is the primary carer for her grandson. Around Christmas time, Tamara was facing the prospect of losing her job if she could not place her grandson in child care. The government's legislation will give people like Tamara the chance to choose a high-quality child-care provider, to continue going to work and to increase their time at work. When centres do not receive enough business, they close. The 105 approved child-care services in Dunkley are at risk because of the recklessness of the opposition. That means jobs too. I pledge to fight for Tamara, her grandson and the 8,500 Dunkley children when these child-care reforms are debated in the chamber, to protect my constituents from Labor's apathy and irresponsible actions.

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