Page 3491 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 18 August 2010
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Mr Barr: Right.
MS HUNTER: not just in our government schools, but also in our non-government schools. And I do find it—
Members interjecting—
MS HUNTER: Stop the clock.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): Mr Barr! Mr Seselja! I cannot hear Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: I do find it quite ironic—
Members interjecting—
Mr Barr: But I was here. I am elected to serve in this place.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Barr, I cannot hear Ms Hunter. Please be quiet.
MS HUNTER: I do find it ironic that we have some of our Liberal MLAs busting themselves to get out there to the openings of these facilities in our non-government schools when they were out there saying, “No, do not pass this. Do not get the money out there.” I find it quite astounding. But then again, I should not be surprised.
Mr Rattenbury interjecting—
MS HUNTER: On childcare, it is clear that the Greens have always supported the provision of quality childcare services.
Mr Rattenbury: Did you get a photo op?
MS HUNTER: Where children are in childcare, they deserve to be well looked after, and parents expect that their children will be well cared for. Quality childcare is important. Australian families want access to affordable and quality childcare when they need it.
And the Greens want nationally consistent early childhood education and care standards that are linked to the quality cost drivers. We want to see higher ratios in our childcare centres. We do not want to follow the Liberals’ line, which is to have poor-quality places for children during their childcare years. We want to see well qualified staff. We want to see proper ratios out there. These are our children. They deserve to be in places with well-qualified staff with proper ratios. That is what we want.
Mr Seselja: Are you saying they are poor-quality now?
MS HUNTER: Not at all. What we are saying is that—
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