Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the government has decided to scrap free childcare and begin forcing parents to pay expensive childcare fees again from next month,

  (ii) this move will force many parents to reduce their work days or remove their children from care,

  (iii) childcare is an essential service which should be universally available for everyone, and

  (iv) the move away from free childcare will disproportionately impact women;

(b) commends the vital and hard work of early childhood educators and care workers, who have been fighting for better wages and conditions; and

(c) calls on the Government to invest to make childcare free permanently, with higher wages and better conditions for workers to reflect the value of what they contribute to our communities.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition's once-in-a generation reforms for child care have seen female participation in the workforce rise while out-of-pocket costs for families are down 3.2 per cent since the reforms were introduced. Our childcare package is means-tested to ensure that those who earn the least receive the most support. Over 70 per cent of families are paying less than $5 an hour and nearly a quarter pay less than $2 per hour. Our transition arrangements will provide $708 million in transition payments while the activity test will be eased for those whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 642 moved by Senator Faruqi be agreed to.