Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As we understand from previous speakers, this amendment has the support of the Senate. As such, we are not going to stand in the way of it. It is not Labor's focus as part of this childcare reform package. We do have concerns, though, that this undermines the universal nature of access to early education. All children, regardless of their parents' income, have access to government subsidised school, including public schools. And up to this point all children have also received some universal subsidised early childhood education. This amendment would end that. It will certainly be taking a different approach in one part of our education system from that taken in the other. I think it also risks early childhood education being viewed through the lens of being a babysitting service and welfare rather than part of the education system. As said, that is not Labor's focus and we understand it has the support of the majority of the Senate.