Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to thank the member for her question because it enables me to detail what was in the budget for the childcare sector. There is a record $9.2 billion worth of funding for the childcare sector. And, importantly—and this seems to have been completely overlooked—there was $900 million of additional funding for the childcare sector to support them through the pandemic. Do you know what that led to? It led to 99 per cent of all childcare providers remaining viable throughout the pandemic, providing services to those on the front line during the pandemic—those nurses, those doctors. In particular—and I say this on behalf of all members here in the House because I'm sure this is one thing we will all agree on—I thank those members who were on the front line when it came to providing those important services of keeping those childcare service providers open. A majority of women were servicing those childcare providers and educators.

Ms Rishworth interjecting—

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