Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Hansard source

Australians are struggling under the increased cost of living, and this Liberal-National government is in denial. Petrol prices have gone up by as much as $900 for a typical family driving a standard car in a year, while real wages have fallen by $700. On top of this, childcare fees have gone up by $390 in a year. Childcare fees have gone up by 39 per cent under this Liberal government, and out-of-pocket costs are soaring. Fees are out of control, and this government has no real plan to fix it. Not only do Australian families bear some of the highest costs for child care in the OECD; they have one of the most confusing systems in the world. And families are suffering as a result. The latest data from Services Australia show that the government has hit more than 179,000 Australian families with childcare subsidy debt notices for more than $191 million. The Morrison government is not concerned that families need a PhD in maths and hours of spare time to work out the childcare system. This government is not bothered that families have been hit by COVID lockdowns. This government is not bothered about the soaring cost of living. It has become harder and harder for working families to make ends meet under this decade-old government, and we need a Labor government to make things easier.

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