Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

There are indeed threats because, like any reform, especially reforms that this government undertakes, they have to be paid for. As I have indicated, we are proposing an additional $3½ billion in investment in child care over the next four years, but we have also proposed savings that will offset that investment.

Unfortunately, today the Australian Labor Party have said that they will oppose many of those savings. The savings that the Labor Party propose to block constitute around 85 per cent of the $3½ billion that we need. I welcome their support for the 15 per cent of savings, but, by blocking this, they are putting at risk increased support to Australian families to juggle their work and family obligations. How will the Labor Party propose to pay for increased childcare support to families earning up to $170,000? How will they make sure that we deliver the childcare safety net? How would they support $3½ billion of extra funding in child care? (Time expired)