Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Early learning has many benefits for children, for parents, for our communities and for the economy, but in regional and rural areas of Australia we know that accessing early learning has at times been just too hard for particular communities, and that challenge has been there for too long. I know I'm not alone in sharing this view. Mr Ramsey, the member for Grey, has said:

All I'm asking is that they—

The government—

make it top of their aim to address the childcare deserts before we lavish more on the rest of Australia.

Mr Tony Pasin, the member for Barker, has said:

I want to see the minister responsible for this important portfolio area focusing some of her attention on addressing the childcare deserts …

Mr James Stevens, the member for Sturt, has complained:

… there is nothing to address the childcare deserts that occur, particularly in regional areas and regional electorates. We would like the government to look very closely at that.

I've got good news for you, gents: Labor's $1 billion Building Early Education Fund will build 160 more early learning centres in areas of need, including in the outer suburbs and in regional Australia. It is rolling out from July 2025 to directly to address the issue of childcare deserts. The National Farmers Federation has welcomed the move. Indeed, they've implored the coalition to match it. But how has this policy been met by those opposite? With the sound of silence. If the coalition is serious about doing something about childcare deserts in South Australia, then it's time to back in Labor's $1 billion investment to do just that.