Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you again, Senator O'Neill. I'm pleased to say that the government's cheaper childcare reforms are delivering real cost-of-living relief to Australian families right now. In the first week of our landmark reforms, families paid 14 per cent less per hour per child for centre based day care as a result of the Albanese government's changes. And, thanks to the increased childcare subsidy, a family earning $120,000 with one child in care can expect to save about $2,000 in early childhood education and care costs this financial year.

I take the interjection. It does make a real difference to families' costs, Senator O'Neill. That's what the Albanese government is about—helping people with these costs. Apart from the mortgage or the rent, early childhood education and care is one of the biggest bills that a lot of families pay, and we are making it cheaper. This means more children can access more of the health and education benefits achieved by access to quality early childhood education and care and more cost-of-living relief.