Kate Ellis (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

As I was stating prior to question time, in this legislation the introduction of the new complicated activity test would actually remove the current entitlement of all children in Australia to access two days of early education. And we know that this new activity test would see around 150,000 families effectively worse off. This test effectively slashes subsidised access in half for many of those children, and it removes eligibility completely for some children in families with non-working parents. Well Labor say that we should not punish vulnerable Australian children for the decisions of their parents.

The government's new 12-hour safety net for single income families is not equal to two days care, as the minister claimed. Stakeholders across the sector are calling for an increase in the available hours so that children can continue to access at least two days care. It is not just Labor; the proposed activity test in this bill and the cut to available subsidised care has been criticised broadly across the early childhood sector. This includes by the Australian Childcare Alliance, Early Childhood Australia, the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia, Early Childhood Management Services, UnitingCare, Mission Australia, Anglicare, United Voice, the Benevolent Society, Early Learning Association Australia and many, many others.

We know that it is a sad reality that child care provides some children with the safest environment they are ever in. Child care can play a really important role in early detection of abusive and neglectful environments. Removing access increases the chances of these children falling through the cracks. We urge the government: fix the flaws in the childcare proposals and Labor will happily work with them to support them through the parliament. We cannot punish the most disadvantaged Australian children.

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