Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

The government is implementing an integrated $2.4 billion childcare plan. We have eased the burden on working families by increasing the childcare tax rebate from 30 per cent to 50 per cent. We have invested $533.5 million over five years to ensure that all Australian children have access to 15 hours a week of play based learning and development programs in the year before school. We are creating 1,500 new Commonwealth supported university places in early childhood education to increase the supply of professionally trained workers—500 a year in 2009, 2010 and 2011. We are establishing 260 new early learning and childcare centres. (Time expired)