Page 323 - Week 01 - Thursday, 16 February 2012

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It is a clear reflection of the priorities of the Labor Party and the Greens that on such a massive project, with such a massive waste of money, with such massive deception, they will not even give it the most basic inquiry from here.

Question put:

That Mr Seselja’s motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 5

Noes 10

Mr Doszpot

Mr Smyth

Mr Barr

Mr Hargreaves

Mrs Dunne

Dr Bourke

Ms Hunter

Mr Hanson

Ms Bresnan

Ms Le Couteur

Mr Seselja

Ms Burch

Ms Porter

Mr Corbell

Mr Rattenbury

Question so resolved in the negative.

Sitting suspended from 12.30 to 2 pm.

Questions without notice

Childcare—cost

MR SESELJA: My question is to the Minister for Community Services. Minister, a year ago the Productivity Commission’s report on government services revealed that the cost of childcare in the ACT was $60 above the national average. This year the report reveals that this has soared to $75 above the national average, an increase of 25 per cent. Minister, why in the space of just one year has the ACT’s record of the highest childcare cost in the country risen even higher, to the tune of 25 per cent?

MS BURCH: It is quite correct that ACT childcare costs do rate amongst the highest in the country but it is also quite correct that the quality of our services rates amongst the highest in the country as well. Those opposite do put a lot of attention onto childcare, but they are absent when it comes to any childcare policies. What we have been getting on and doing, in supporting Canberra families, is supporting the workforce that care for children in the early education and care sector.

Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, the question was why, in the space of a year, has the cost gone up by another 25 per cent? Ms Burch is not answering the question. She is running a critique of what she claims is the Liberal Party not having policies. We do have policies in the area, but that is irrelevant. The question is: why has the cost gone up by 25 per cent?

MR SPEAKER: Yes, the point of order is upheld. Ms Burch, let us focus on the question at hand, thank you.

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