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

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education. Minister, in light of your previous answer, do you promise that your government will not means test the childcare rebate?

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer to my previous answer that we have no plans to means test the childcare rebate. But I would like to take this opportunity, since the shadow minister has decided to ask me another question along the same lines as her previous two, to remind people of Labor's fabulous written-in-gold promise, in child care—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on a point of order: in fairness, the minister just conceded that she is about to not be directly relevant to the question.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the Assistant Minister for Education. Before I ask her to speak, I do acknowledge that the two last questions from the member for Adelaide were very similar but I allowed them to stand and I do understand the frustration of the assistant minister; however, I would ask her to return to the subject of the question.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of 260 new centres, 38 were built—page 2 of a press release, buried behind a whole lot of guff. Too embarrassed to talk about the reality.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on a point of order—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. Order! We will have quiet, thank you. I call the Assistant Minister for Education and ask her to return to the substance of the question.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I repeat my previous statement: the government has no plans to means test the childcare rebate.