Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Hansard source

Through you, Mr President, I say to Senator Fielding: I have a lot of time for you, Senator Fielding, but I have to say that, on that question, you have completely missed the mark. This government has delivered on its commitment to increase the rebate from 30 per cent to 50 per cent. In terms of the change in the budget, the vast majority of Australian families—some 97 per cent—will not be affected by the change arising out of the budget. We are extremely proud of the work that this government has done in terms of child care and childhood development. It took the Rudd government to put childhood development on the map. The Rudd government put lifelong learning on the map.