Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water (Senate)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Birmingham. Has any company connected to Mr Dutton received funding under the Commonwealth childcare subsidy? If yes, how much?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a well-known fact, and it has long been declared in terms of Mr Dutton's interests, that his wife has business interests in relation to the provision of childcare services. Like any childcare provider, Mr Dutton's wife's business interests are entitled through their customers, through those families who access those services, to the same types of childcare subsidies, rebates and benefits as any other Australian families. Those are payments for those families, and for those families to get the fee relief that every other Australian family is entitled to when their children attend childcare centres.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pratt, a supplementary question.

Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water (Senate)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Reports indicate that Mr Dutton's family trust owns RHT Investments, which operates two childcare centres which together have received $5.6 million since 2010. How can Mr Dutton claim he has received no benefit from the Commonwealth subsidy?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a grubby smear by those opposite. Let us understand that every Australian family is entitled, under the same laws of the land, to receive childcare support. Under the old childcare benefit and the childcare rebate or today under the childcare subsidy implemented by this government.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong on a point of order.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is direct relevance. The question is not about what the family receives as a benefit, the question is about what they receive as an operator.

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The people want to know the full story, Penno.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take that: people do want to know the full story. Reports indicate that $5.6 million has been paid to a company which has been owned by his family trust. This is the opportunity for the minister to respond to that.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, with respect, they are debating points. The minister is being directly relevant to the question, in my view. I call him to continue.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was making very clear, every Australian family is entitled to the same type of support as they always have been. Childcare operators, who go through the usual standard registration processes, can administer those subsidies on behalf of those Australian families. I don't know whether the thrust of Senator Pratt's question is to somehow suggest that Mr Dutton's wife should not be allowed to have business interests in relation to providing quality childcare services to Australian families or that those families somehow ought to be denied the same rights as other families.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Collins on a point of order.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, Mr President: Senator Pratt made no reference at all to Mr Dutton's wife.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not a point of order, Senator Collins, and you know better. Senator Birmingham.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The fact here is that those families receive benefits, paid for them by the government to the centre, for fee relief like any other family around Australia under the exact same circumstances as any other centre around Australia. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pratt, a final supplementary question.

Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water (Senate)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When did the minister first become aware that Mr Peter Dutton had pocketed $5.6 million in Commonwealth funding?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What an outrageous smear from Senator Pratt! Senator Pratt ought to stand up and apologise to this Senate for misleading this Senate. The fact that the families whose children attend childcare centres operated by Mr Dutton's wife are in some way receiving fee relief like any other Australian family should not be used in that type of personal smear from Senator Pratt, and she should be ashamed of herself.