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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Childcare fees have gone up nearly 40 per cent since this government came to office, but real wages have gone backwards, falling $700 in the last year alone. Hasn't it become harder for working families to make ends meet under this almost decade-old government?

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. When it comes to childcare services and childcare fees, as the government announced in MYEFO in response to pressures in terms of cost of living, from 7 March this year, so in just two or three weeks, the average Australian family with a second or third child in child care will be $2,200 better off.

Balancing child care and the childcare needs of our society is important. Forty-seven per cent of Australian families have children in child care right now. Fifty-three per cent of families don't. Right now, the rebate in terms of child care subsidy is up to 85 per cent, with the average family receiving a rebate of around 60 per cent. Over 240,000 children and their families are benefiting. The government understands the challenges with the second and the third child, which is why these extra rebates—over $1 billion is coming through, approaching $2 billion—will start earlier than we first hoped. By bringing it well forward, we are understanding the needs that children have. That's $2,200 extra in the family's pocket for the second and third child for over 200,000 children.

If we think it through, average out-of-pocket costs for centre based day care are $4 an hour, compared to $4.87 an hour in June 2018. That is less than $5 per hour per child for the families of 70 per cent of children in centre based day care and less than $2 per hour per child for the families of 24 per cent of children in centre based day care, and around 90 per cent of families using child care are entitled to a childcare subsidy of between 50 and 85 per cent. That is the endowment that the Morrison government has done with a strong economy. That's the endowment that the Morrison government has done in terms of lowering taxes and ensuring our economy is moving forward from the national perspective. That's the endowment that the Morrison government is delivering, and the changes of 7 March for the second and third child, saving an average $2,200, is further evidence of what that endowment is.

Child care is important. It's important for families. It's important for productivity. It's important for the one million women who've entered the workforce since we came to government, and the Morrison government will continue to stand up for families. (Time expired)