Leah Blyth (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Infrastructure) Share this | Hansard source

Labor's Minister for Women's recent comments that the sooner you get a child into early education or care, the better prepared they are clearly wrong and fundamentally misunderstand the needs of modern families. Perhaps the minister is recalling an earlier time where the model of care was different and may not be reflective of the current economic environment or regulation-intensive services offered today.

Parents across the country are balancing work and family responsibilities that have only increased in the wake of Labor's fiscal management, with more bad news and more Labor broken promises at tonight's budget. This means families have to work harder and longer hours just to make ends meet. Putting children into care as early as possible is not always parental preference. Mothers in particular can feel a deep disconnection when forced back to work for economic reasons, not for the good of their families.

Two of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes in children are engaged parenting and maternal wellbeing. Arguably, sending children into care at the earliest possible moment risks both of these outcomes. In only recognising union-dominated, centre based care, the government ignores the needs of real working families that have different responsibilities and require choice. These are our police, our ambulance officers, doctors and professionals who work long hours to serve the community. Flexibility and choice on when and who cares for their children are not a 'nice to have' in these professions; they are essential. These comments from the minister are tone deaf and expose the true intentions of Labor. They believe that the state is best-placed to decide what is best for children, not their own family. The coalition takes a different view. We think that families should have that choice.