Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for his question and acknowledge Senator Smith's interest in this topic and that he was indeed a champion of the Senate inquiry in this place looking into the care that grandparents provide to their grandchildren. Our government's Jobs for Families childcare reforms are, firstly, about trying to make the childcare payment system simpler, reforming three-plus different payment measures and subsidies into one simpler childcare subsidy system. Secondly, we are trying to ensure that they are fairer, that the support is there for families who work more to be able to access the greatest number of subsidised hours of child care and for families who earn less to be able to access the greatest rate of subsidy in relation to that child care.

As part of those fairness components we are very committed to having a strong safety net in place to support all those vulnerable children, vulnerable families and, indeed, grandparents who are the primary carers of their grandchildren. Importantly, we will be making sure that as part of our reforms grandparents do not have to meet the activity test requirements that otherwise apply to access to child care. The activity test is there to make sure that those families who most need child care and most need childcare hours are best able to access those hours, but we recognise that, in relation to grandparents who are the primary carers of their grandchildren, they are providing support, care and love to their grandchildren at times of great need but are quite often doing so in their retirement years and deserve a level of respite. They deserve a level of support, and we want to make sure that, wherever possible, they are not out of pocket for that support that they provide for their grandchildren. It is part of our commitment to making sure the childcare system is fair, is simple and is affordable for all of those who need it, supporting the most vulnerable while supporting those Australians who are accessing it to balance work and family obligations too.