Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Bilyk, I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1120 be taken as a formal motion.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

An honourable senator interjecting—

There is an objection.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion No. 3 standing in the name of Senator Wong, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent general business notice of motion No. 1120 being moved immediately and determined without amendment or debate.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Gallagher be agreed to.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Bilyk, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) expresses its support for public funding for early childhood education and care (ECEC), recognising that it helps increase the participation of parents in the workforce, especially women, thereby boosting Australia's economy, and contributes to the physical, intellectual, social and emotional development of children;

(b) notes that public funding for ECEC has been described by certain Government members and senators as a 'money pit', 'communism' and 'the hand of government reaching in and taking away our children's youth';

(c) recognises that the Government's child care policy:

(i) does not start until July 2022,

(ii) provides no additional benefit to families with only one child,

(iii) rips away increased subsidy support for families with two children in care when the oldest child goes to school,

(iv) creates confusion for many families as to whether they will be eligible for any support, and if so how much and for how long, and

(v) has missed the opportunity to boost Australia's economy by increasing women's workforce participation; and

(d) calls on the Federal Government to adopt Labor's Cheaper Child Care Plan, which will benefit four times as many families as the Government's plan.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We usually table at this point. Are you happy to do that?

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you.

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 1120 standing in the name of Senator Bilyk be agreed to.