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

I thank Senator Paterson for his question and indeed for his interest in the Turnbull government's growing investment in supporting Australian families to make choices about when they work, the days they work, the hours they work and ensure that they're empowered to make choices that best support them, their families and their circumstances to manage work and family obligations. Nearly one million Australian families will benefit as a result of the Turnbull government's decision to back hardworking Australian families to be able to make such choices about their work and family arrangements.

We're investing around $2.5 billion, but we're managing to target investment not just by investing more but by better targeting what is currently spent in relation to support for childcare subsidies. That's because we're putting in place a clear activity test that ensures that families who are working the longest hours, studying or volunteering are the ones who will receive the greatest level of support. We also recognise that additional support for access to early education is essential for vulnerable families, which is why we equally established a $1.2 billion childcare safety net.

The benefits in Senator Paterson's home state of Victoria will be that around 75 per cent of families will be better off—many of them better off to the tune of some thousands of dollars per annum. In Western Australia, for example, around 72 per cent—I see Senator Reynolds sitting there next to Senator Paterson—of families will equally benefit. Tasmania, which has been a topic of discussion today—and I see Senator Duniam, on the other side of Senator Paterson—will see some 85 per cent of families of hardworking, low- and middle-income families benefit. And, in my home state of South Australia, some 80 per cent of families will clearly benefit as a result of these reforms. Even in Ms Rishworth the shadow minister's own electorate, 83.6 per cent of families stand to benefit. I'm amazed that she had the gall to vote against these reforms.