Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I am tempted to re-ask my first question; I just simply wanted to know: what was the basis of the $83.20? But perhaps I will get that with the supplementary question. I further ask: is the minister aware of the Productivity Commission’s report on government services which notes that 189,000 children are currently unable to access the child care that is needed? On top of the $100-a-day fees that some families are paying, doesn’t that massive shortfall reinforce the fact that child care is in fact not accessible and not affordable? Does the minister still accept the advice of Treasury that families who cannot find affordable child care are just too damn choosy?