Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party, Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

In summing up, I thank those members who have spoken on the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Improving Assistance for Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Families) Bill 2020 for their contributions to this debate. The Australian government's primary aim has been and continues to be to support families and the childcare sector during the COVID-19 crisis and to ensure that quality early childhood education and care is available to vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families. Through the ECEC Relief Package, over 98 per cent of childcare providers kept their doors open and provided free child care to the children of essential workers, vulnerable children and children whose families have an existing relationship with the service. The bill clearly shows that, with the return to the demand driven childcare subsidy on 13 July, this government is committed to improving access to child care for vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families and to cutting red tape for families and childcare providers.

Since the implementation of the childcare package, it has been clear that the government is delivering on its goal to create a more affordable, accessible and flexible childcare subsidy system. We have been listening to stakeholders regarding areas of improvement, and the key measures contained in this bill are in direct response to feedback from the childcare sector. The key measures contained in the bill will benefit families and childcare providers by extending the backdating of additional childcare subsidy (child wellbeing) certificates and determinations from 28 days to up to 13 weeks in exceptional circumstances and by extending the period, from 13 weeks to up to 12 months, that additional childcare subsidy (child wellbeing) determinations can be given for children on a long-term child protection order, clarifying that a provider may be eligible for additional childcare subsidy (child wellbeing) in respect of certain defined classes of children, such as foster children. Notably, the amendments also continue to maintain appropriate safeguards to support the integrity of the additional childcare subsidy (child wellbeing) payment.

Schedule 2 to the bill seeks to modify the calculation used for childcare subsidy balancing, for individuals that change their relationship status through partnering, separation or bereavement, to bring the calculation into line with other government payments. These amendments have already been progressed as part of the Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus (Measures No. 2) Act 2020, which received royal assent on 9 April 2020. I will therefore be moving government amendments in the committee stage to remove schedule 2.

In conclusion, this bill demonstrates the fact that the government remains committed to making life easier for providers and vulnerable and disadvantaged families and continues to make improvements based on feedback on the childcare package. The changes in this bill will reduce regulatory and administrative burdens on families and childcare providers, support vulnerable and disadvantaged families to access quality early learning and child care and help parents to access financial assistance. I commend the bill to the House.

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