Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

The coalition won't be supporting setting the eligibility of parenting payment single to 16 from 14, but we do wish to put on the record the concerns that we have in relation to the removal of ParentsNext as a program to maintain connectivity between people who are caring for children and the workforce. But we will support the extension that's being brought forward by the government to 14 years of age. We do acknowledge that there are measures to address and recognise the caring responsibilities of Australians who have young children.

We are particularly keen to understand: if you're going to increase the age to 14 at the same time as you are going to remove ParentsNext as a program to maintain the connectivity of people who have caring responsibilities with the workforce, has the government made any consideration in relation to how that connectivity is able to be maintained in the absence of ParentsNext and in recognition of the increase in the age to 14?