Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education) Share this | Hansard source

Isn't this interesting! I have now given the minister two opportunities to inform the chamber about what consultation has taken place with the sector and with families in the community to determine the impact of this legislation, and on both those occasions the minister has been unable to provide the chamber with an answer. Quite frankly, I think that is appalling.

On the other side of this chamber, the Prime Minister and her Labor government might think it is okay to increase costs for families for child care. On this side of the chamber we disagree with that. Having accepted that this is the piece of legislation the government are putting forward, I think it is quite appropriate for those in this chamber to at least be informed as to what consultation the government had with the sector and with families in the community. How on earth can the government sit on the other side of this chamber and say the change is going to be negligible and there is not going to be any impact if they cannot actually enlighten us and those listening as to what consultation took place?

I am very interested to note that Childcare Alliance Australia, which is one organisation that I know of, undertook a research strategy showing that there were going to be increases of $12 to $22 a day. They represent 70 per cent of long day care providers. Perhaps I can ask a specific question: can the minister inform the chamber whether the government consulted with Childcare Alliance Australia?