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

I thank the senator for her question. The government considered many things during the discussions about our child-care reforms. We have considered well and truly the interests of hardworking Australian families, which is why we are increasing the amount of support that the lowest income Australian families receive from around 72 per cent, as I have told the Senate, to 85 per cent. We have considered absolutely the priority of families who do not meet the activity test—and let us remember that the activity test requires families to only work, study or volunteer for four hours per week; it is a very light touch family activity test—and are on a very low income, below $65,000. The legislation that has been presented to the parliament and has been considered by the parliament through three different Senate inquiries proposes access to 24 hours per fortnight of care even for those families not meeting the activity test but below that threshold as part of the safety net.

It is the government's position and belief that that can adequately deliver the two sessions of care per week that are recommended for children in those circumstances. In the end six-hour sessions are analogous to a school day. They are the types of sessions that are provided in a preschool environment, if not even longer. They are the types of sessions we see in countries like New Zealand as part of their model. There are those who might wish to lobby, for their own business or commercial reasons, for longer hours, even though in many instances we do not have children sitting there during those hours. We think it is appropriate that taxpayers' money is targeted for effective early learning opportunities in care sessions that will actually be effectively utilised.