Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

To make sure that we continue to support our bushfire affected areas as they go through recovery—we understand that drought, bushfires and floods have a significant impact on families—we've allocated an additional $5 million through the community childcare fund special circumstances program for services in those communities that have been directly affected by bushfires. Services may seek funds for a range of activities. It might be to establish a temporary centre or premises where children can go if their existing one has been damaged or destroyed, temporarily meeting operational costs and addressing the issues of health and safety requirements.

The Minister for Education also recently delivered a new set of rules that enables charities that wish to support volunteer firefighters with the cost of child care to do so. Families in bushfire affected areas will also be exempt from the activity test for the childcare debt going into the future so that we can continue to support— (Time expired)