Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I will just add my comments to this discussion. I am concerned about the trend that this amendment is taking. The Australian Greens believe that access to early childhood education should be universal, and this goes directly against that. I understand the arguments put forward by Senator Hinch about the level of public funding going towards people on the upper income levels. But I think that is why we means test things. To cut it off at zero really does send a message that early childhood education in care is a luxury or about babysitting, not education. I fundamentally believe that education is the best way of giving our children a good start in life. If we want to have productive members of our community we have to be investing in their education early. All of the expert advice tells us that the real work and effort is put in before a child turns five. We have universal access for kindergarten. I would argue that we need to have universal access in the years below kindergarten as well. It is a matter of principle for the Australian Greens. Having said that, we are not going to stand in the way of your amendment tonight. But just note that we are very worried about the trend and the principle that this sets.