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

Aside from some very vague claims of those opposite, I am aware of no alternatives. Mr Shorten was out there earlier today, in fact, saying, 'Family shouldn't have to worry about the cost of child care.' Under a Turnbull government, they know there will be increased investment, targeted to those families who are working the hardest and earning the least, getting the most support from a Turnbull government. But there is no clarity from those opposite as to whether they support our reforms or, if they do not, what the alternative would be. So Australian working families face great uncertainty under what a Shorten government would look like. The boost that could generate and support around 29,000 additional people in workforce participation could be lost without the reforms we have. But, most importantly for families, the additional support that will be available for low- and middle-income families, who will on average be around $1,500 a year better off in paying their childcare bills under our government, would be jeopardised by the lack of plans or detail from those opposite. (Time expired)