Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Payman, for being on the same page in relation to early education and care. In 100 days, cheaper early childhood education and care will provide cost-of-living relief for around 1.2 million Australian families. The milestone comes as new data from the Department of Education reveals that childcare costs soared by 49 per cent under the previous government. From July, the Albanese government will be taking action to deliver real cost-of-living relief. We know parents who have children under the age of five just want to keep those childcare costs under the weekly household budget. For the average family on about $120,000 a year with a child in care three days a week, the changes will cut costs by about $1,700 a year. The childcare subsidy rates will lift to 90 per cent for families on a combined income of $80,000 or less. The highest subsidies of up to 95 per cent for families with second and subsequent children will be retained. (Time expired)