Fatima Payman (WA, Australia's Voice) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Walsh. The issue of child care has been a topic of national debate in recent weeks. The safety of children is very important to us all. What has received less attention is the effect that having a child today actually has on parents. Many parents want to be able to raise their kids at home, but economic realities mean they are forced to enrol their children in early childhood education centres—if they can find an available centre. With rising mortgages, utilities and other cost-of-living factors, how is this government supporting parents to stay at home, if they choose to, with their kids?