KIERAN GILBERT:
Let’s get some more reaction to a few of those stories. Joining me live is the Liberal frontbencher Angie Bell, joins us live from the Gold Coast. Angie, thanks for your time. Let’s start with this issue of interest rates. Obviously so much at stake if the RBA is to move tomorrow, I’m sure many of your constituents would be hoping, praying, that the RBA cuts rates tomorrow as expected.
TOM LOWREY:
The Parliament’s final act before rising yesterday for what could be the last sitting week of the term, was to pass Labor’s change to the child care subsidy through the Senate. It means parents will be guaranteed a minimum three days of subsidised child care regardless of how much they work or study, taking a step towards universal child care availability.
To get the Coalition’s view on the Bill, let’s bring in Shadow Early Childhood Education Minister, Angie Bell.
Angie Bell, thanks for joining the Afternoon Briefing.
The Albanese Government’s political games in parliament this fortnight has reinforced Labor’s complete neglect of Australia’s early childhood education system, creating uncertainty for providers, educators and families. Since coming to power, Labor’s early childhood education policies have completely failed families on every front, and in a desperate attempt to create a legacy, the Albanese Labor Government has now rammed through changes that will make life harder for working families. Contrary to Labor’s claims, its ‘Three Day Guarantee’ will not increase access or equity for children. Rather, it will achieve the opposite.
It’s quite hard to believe that we’re nearing the end of the 47th parliament. It seems like yesterday that I came to this place in 2019 and again in 2022, and I’m very proud to be the member for Moncrieff and advocate for you, my community, and, of course, for the Liberal National Party values of equality of opportunity, reward for effort and freedom of association and conscience.
Australian families do not believe the Prime Minister when he says that they’ll be better off under Labor again. Aussies are not mugs. They know they’ve been fooled once, but it won’t be twice. His promises that life will be easy have simply not come true.
Early childhood education is an essential service that families rely on to study, to work and to pay the household bills. That’s how the minister introduced her bill last week. And I must say, I found myself agreeing profusely with that statement, as that is exactly why this legislation should be voted down.
Over three years ago, those opposite promised Australians that life would be cheaper under Labor and, in those three years: interest rates have increased a massive 12 times; energy bills, not down by $275 but up by $1,000; living standards for Australians have collapsed by almost nine per cent; 27,000 businesses have gone insolvent—the most ever; and a family with a typical mortgage has spent an additional $50,000 on their interest payments.
KIERAN GILBERT:
Let’s bring in Liberal frontbencher Angie Bell. Thanks for your time. Last time you were in office, Joe Hockey as Ambassador successfully lead the effort to carve out an exemption. Do you think we can get it done again this time?
ANGIE BELL:
Well, you’re right. Joe Hockey was an excellent Ambassador for the Coalition to the United States. This is a test for Ambassador Rudd and also for Anthony Albanese’s leadership. This is crunch time for the government, and let’s see if they can negotiate as well as the Coalition did when we were in government.
The Prime Minister promised Australia cheaper child care. He promised a pay rise for 200,000 educators by the end of the year. But just like all of his other promises, like no changes to superannuation, no changes to the stage 3 tax cuts and—who can forget?—cheaper power bills, he has failed to deliver for Australians. Under Labor, the cost of child care has risen by 22.3 per cent, and the latest inflation data shows that, since Labor’s changes to the child-care subsidy, out-of-pocket fees have skyrocketed by 12.7 per cent.
KIERAN GILBERT:
Welcome back to the program. Joining me now is the Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Angie Bell. Angie, big focus in your space this week. Jason Clare is talking about introducing or expediting the bill, which would remove the activity test for three days of child care for those that work or don’t work, study or don’t study, the activity test will essentially be gone. What’s your position on it, given the speed with which the government is acting on this?