Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The government's position is that the savings that are being found in the family tax benefit system can be appropriately allocated to these reforms. The issue of 12 hours versus 15 hours is an issue that the education minister, Senator Birmingham, has worked on during a very long period of consultation. There have been a variety of views. The determination of this government—and we believe it will be agreed to by a majority of crossbenchers—is that, in all the circumstances, that is the best balance and the best approach to provide those million Australians with better, more flexible, more affordable child care and balance the interest in making the package financially sustainable.

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