Some took the opportunity, some didn’t.

Here we ask them “how much childcare and early learning support should families be entitled to, and how would you deliver it?”

MARK COULTON

Affordable and flexible childcare and early learning support should be made available to families right across Australia.  

However I believe it is important that we give priority to increasing access to care for families who need it most, particularly working parents.

Within the Coalition, I am supportive of reforms to improve child care affordability and accessibility as well as enhancing flexibility to the current, complex child care system.

The Coalition has committed more than $3 billion in additional child care investment that will benefit around one million families and is targeted towards those working the longest hours but earning the least.  

This will see average families with an income of between $65,000 and $170,000 better off by around $30 per week.

Proposed reforms include abolishing the $7,500 cap to ensure parents on family incomes of $185,710 or less aren’t limited by a cap on the amount of child care they can access.

The cap will be increased to $10,000 for families earning more than $185,710.  

In addition, hardworking lower income families will be given an 85 per cent subsidy, which tapers down to 20 per cent for higher income families.

I believe that this child care policy will go some way to putting downward pressure on prices and providing more accessible, affordable and fairer child care and early learning support for families.

KATE STEWART

It struck me as odd that we would have a Baby Bonus, followed by a drive to get women back into the workforce... but that we would make no provision for child care?

It struck me as odd, as well, that after having children and sending mothers back to work we wouldn't want them engaged in learning about the world around them.

And it struck me as woefully inept that after having children, sending mothers back to work and wanting our children cared for and learning we wouldn't want their carers paid decent wages and trained properly to undertake the roles they had in our children's lives.

Well, if that's the future you want, vote Nationals.

We, on the Labor benches, know that childcare is costing Australian families too much and that that creates inequity for some.

We, on the Labor benches, think that if a child's parents must return to the workforce, they should be cared for by people who are appropriately trained and appropriately remunerated.

We, on the Labor benches, believe that children should be learning about the world around them in a safe place.

That's why we, on the Labor benches, are redirecting tax cuts for millionaires to help our youngest Australians.

And we, on the Labor benches, will be increasing the childcare rebate to $10,000.

MATT PARMETER

The Greens believe that all Australian families should have access to affordable, quality childcare.

By streamlining funding to reduce out of pocket expenses, we will give all families a guaranteed 24 hours of subsidised care per week and provide $200m to help early learning centres cut waiting lists.

To do this The Greens will restructure the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate into a single means tested payment made direct to centres.

This will make the system both easier to navigate and better targeted towards families who need greater support.

Families earning around $65,000 or less will receive a subsidy of 85 per cent of the actual fee charged.

For family incomes above $65,000, the subsidy tapers down to 20 per cent early childhood education and care and that means families can afford the weekly fees without breaking the bank.

With available spaces disappearing and waiting lists increasing, The Greens will initiate a ‘Reducing Waiting Lists’ grant fund that would encourage centres to apply for funding, allowing them to expand and offer more childcare spaces.

The Greens recognise that early childhood education is about more than just providing a ‘child minding’ service for families; early childhood education and socialisation is essential for the development of all children.

Our policy provides a minimum level of universal access for all children, regardless of workplace participation and in doing so provides essential access for all children.