Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

What an astonishing question! The Howard government have more than doubled places for child care since we came to government. I am absolutely astonished that you would believe that there is a policy to deny Australian families child care when there is a fundamental policy to provide additional services for child care for Australian families. Indeed, the child-care announcements in the last budget were widely welcomed.

You raise a specific issue. I have looked very carefully at the extensive brief I have received from Mr Brough in relation to child care. Given the time available, I have not been able to detect a brief on the specific matters that you have raised. But because I am a helpful senator and because I like to make sure that the Senate is well informed, I will make inquiries of the minister to see whether he is able to provide any additional information on the matters you have raised. If he is, I will get back to you as promptly as possible.