Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Hansard source

Again, those from the other side seek to misrepresent the facts. Isn’t it cynical to come into this place and say ‘child care costs more’? Of course things cost more. What they fail to say is that it does not cost more against disposable income, because they fail to say something about what they did not deliver, which is of course what we provide—the childcare benefit and the childcare tax rebate. The childcare benefit delivers $2,000 on average to families per year and the childcare tax rebate provides up to 30 per cent of out-of-pocket expenses, up to $4,000 per child per year. So you can come in here with distorted facts that seek to misinform the public. The Senate should be here to make sure that the public understands exactly what the circumstances are. This government is providing excellent child care to Australians. (Time expired)