Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It seems as though after nearly a decade of neglect and inaction the opposition, many of which made up the former government, have suddenly decided to care about child care. Quality child care is a vital part of a young person's development, and it is the Labor Party who knows this, and it is the government who cares about education and child care.

Yes, that's right: we care about child care so much that we're actually going to do something to fix the issues that were ignored by the previous government. I know that this may be foreign to those opposite, but the concept is quite simple: it's just the opposite of doing nothing and ignoring the issues that are right in front of you. I know that doing nothing is something that those opposite are well acquainted with, so it shouldn't be too hard to figure out what the opposite is.

Child care is vitally important, but in recent years it hasn't been affordable or accessible for many families. Research shows that many children who participate in quality preschool programs are more likely to arrive at school equipped with the social, cognitive and emotional skills they need to help them continue to learn. These skills don't just benefit children throughout primary school; they're skills they'll have for their whole lives. Higher levels of educational success, employment and social skills have all been linked to moderate levels of participation in quality early childhood education. These benefits should not be restricted to those few that can afford child care or the few that are lucky enough to be able to secure a place. The benefits don't stop there. More children in child care means more parents who are able to get back to work, which means more businesses with eased pressure on staffing shortages.

Again, this motion will see a list of issues rattled off by those opposite as if it's the first time this has been brought to their attention. They do a really good job of pretending these issues didn't exist less than a year ago when they were in government. But, of course, we all know that these issues have existed for much longer than the past few months. Just ask any parent of a young child in my electorate and they will tell you how hard it was for them to get their children into child care and just how much it costs. The Upper Hunter is one of the worst childcare deserts in Australia, with there being over five children waiting for a place in child care for every one place available. One in five is simply not good enough. That is four in five parents who cannot get back into the workforce sooner. That is one in five children with a head start on their journey of education. That's four in five children and families that are being left behind.

But this government leaves no one behind, and that's why we introduced the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Cheaper Child Care) Bill 2022. Child care should be accessible, and it shouldn't only be for the ones that can afford it. That's exactly what this bill is going to make a reality. Because of this bill, 6,300 families in the Hunter will be better off, 6,300 more families will be able to access child care, and 6,300 more families will be able to afford child care without having to sacrifice something else in their life to make sure their children have the best start to their life. This bill will ensure that 6,300 more parents will be able to get back to work. That's 6,300 more employers with additional staff. Most importantly: because of this government's bill, 6,300 more children in the Hunter will have access to early childhood education, a head start in learning and a head start in developing both independence and vital social skills. This bill is good for children, good for parents and good for our country. It is a very welcome beacon of light in my electorate, which is crying out for more accessible child care right now.

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