Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Education. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering responsible cost-of-living relief that is good for families and good for the economy?

Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

LARE (—) (): I thank my friend the member for Calwell for her question. The first five years of a child's life are everything. What they see, what they hear, what they eat, every smile, every laugh, every friend, every book, every lesson, shapes the people that we become.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I feel like lighting a fire and reading a book.

Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's why early childhood education is so important. I would hope that the member for New England in particular might know that. He might also know—as I do, as a father of young children—that early childhood education is expensive, and that the cost has gone up by 41 per cent in the last the eight years.

That's why the legislation that we have introduced into the parliament is so important: it will cut the cost of child care for more than a million Australian families. That is, on average, 6,000 families in each and every electorate represented in this parliament. For a family on a combined income of about $120,000, it means they will save about $1,700 a year.

It's good for children, as the member for new England knows.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals will cease interjecting.

Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's good for mums and dads, as the member for New England knows. It's good for our economy as well, because, in a skill starved economy, this will help a lot of skilled workers to get back into the workforce: according to Treasury, the equivalent of up to 37,000 extra full-time workers. Its why our cheaper childcare legislation has won such widespread support. Goodstart called it groundbreaking. Georgie Dent from The ParentHood said it would help improve financial independence and security for Australian women. The BCA said affordable child care is fundamental to increasing the workforce participation of Australian women. I also want to thank members of the crossbench. The member for Warringah described it as 'an investment in our future as a nation'. The member for Mackellar said, 'Not only is it sensible economic policy; it will provide our children with the best possible start in life.'

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals!

Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wentworth said, 'No other bill gives me greater joy to see in front of the parliament today.' The only people who have criticised it are from the Liberal Party and the National Party. They've opposed it relentlessly for two years. Not one person from the Liberal Party or the National Party has said anything in the debate in support of it. They didn't say one positive thing, except for the member for New England, who we can always rely on for support when it comes to early childhood education and care.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business?

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My point of order is again on relevance. The question had nothing to do with the record of this side of the House. He's strayed again into the former government's record. I suggest he should be directed back to the question.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the minister to remain relevant for the last 18 seconds of his answer.

Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You might ask: why are those opposite voting for it? Maybe it's because only 30 per cent of Australian women voted for them, and they are afraid that if they vote against this the same thing will happen to them again.