Ministers go back to class spruiking childcare changes
Rachael Ward |
Two of Australia’s top politicians have swapped cabinet documents for colouring books, rolling up their sleeves to wrangle preschoolers instead of public servants.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Education Minister Jason Clare were mobbed by kids as they visited a childcare centre in Brisbane on Tuesday.
The Labor powerbrokers squeezed into miniature chairs as they heard directly from some of the nation’s tiniest citizens.
The pair later told reporters the federal government’s childcare reforms delivered a 14 per cent reduction in out-of-pocket costs for families since July.
Ms Clare signalled further changes once the government received a Productivity Report next month, with an emphasis on greater affordability, universal quality and accessibility.
Mr Marles stressed the savings were part of a program to cut cost-of-living pressures for families, a key talking point for the government following the failed voice referendum.
“That is going to be the focus of this government going forward, as it has been since the moment that were elected, and it starts right here in child care,” Mr Marles told reporters.
AAP
