Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor's three-day childcare guarantee is making a real, tangible difference for families right across the north—not in theory, not in headlines, but in the day-to-day lives of parents trying to make it all work. This guarantee is about certainty, about fairness and about making sure families across this country and particularly in communities like mine can plan their lives without the constant pressure of rising childcare costs and unpredictable access. Because, for too long, too many families have been left wondering whether they could afford to work, whether they could take on extra hours or whether child care would simply cost too much to make it worthwhile.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a Goodstart Early Learning centre in the heart of the north. Walking through those doors, speaking with educators who show up every day with passion, meeting the mums and dads who are doing their best for their families and seeing their children engaged, learning and thriving reinforced exactly why this reform matters. These centres are not just places of care; they're places of early learning, of development, of confidence building and of opportunity.

The three-day childcare guarantee ensures that families can access at least three days of subsidised early education and care regardless of their working arrangements, removing one of the biggest barriers families have faced. In Adelaide's north, where many parents are balancing shift work, casual hours, study and caring responsibilities, that certainly is not a luxury; it's essential. It means that parents can say yes to work, say yes to training and say yes to building a better future without the constant trade-off between earning an income and caring for their children.

At the centre I met a mother named Michelle, and her story is one that speaks volumes. Michelle shared that the three-day guarantee has helped her immensely, easing the financial burden, but, just as importantly, giving her the confidence to continue working a full-time job and supporting her family. She didn't overcomplicate it. She summed it up in one word: life changing. And that word carries weight because it reflects what this policy is doing in real homes for real people. It's about backing working families in the north, strengthening workforce participation and ensuring every child, no matter their postcode, has access to quality early education. It's about giving parents breathing room, giving children the best possible start, building stronger communities into the future—because when families are supported, when children are given opportunity, the entire North benefits.

In closing, I also want to send out a huge shout-out to our premier, Peter Malinauskas, on a historic win in South Australia, with a record number of seats. Well done on a fantastic campaign, and hopefully we'll get our candidate for Light over the line in the coming days as the vote continues.