Page 319 - Week 01 - Thursday, 17 February 2011
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I suppose what I would like to hear from the Liberal opposition in respect of the challenges that there are is this: if they do believe that you can achieve this in a cost-free way, please come forward with this idea. I would love to hear that. If the issue becomes what is the appropriate balance between the users of the service and consolidated revenue in terms of funding such improvements to childcare, again, if the Liberal Party have a different position on that and wish to put on the record their view that taxpayers should meet more of the costs associated with this reform, then let Mrs Dunne say that. But we are not really hearing an alternative position. It is very easy to sit on the sidelines—
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Hargreaves): Order!
MR BARR: and to suggest that those who are attempting to implement an important policy reform are not doing it the right way. It is easier to criticise, Mr Assistant Speaker, than it is—
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, please, you have had your chance to speak.
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Barr, please resume your seat. Stop the clock. Mrs Dunne, I have asked you politely. Now I will ask you impolitely. Desist.
MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. It is easy to carp and criticise from the sidelines, and Mrs Dunne is one of the better exponents of that in this place. But the challenge in this policy reform, if there is agreement—I am sure I heard Mrs Dunne say that this agenda is important—is an issue for the Liberal Party around who should bear the cost. In reality, it is either the users of the service or the taxpaying public more broadly. If the Liberal Party have a view that the taxpayer more generally should pay more of the costs associated with this reform, let them say so.
The federal government, of course, have increased the rebates available and have quite generously subsidised some of the costs associated with these changes. That is, in my view, as it should be—that the balance is right. But if Mrs Dunne has an alternative view and the Liberal Party have a position that that in fact is not the way to go, then again, let them come on the record and say exactly how they would fund such a change.
I think there was some further comment—I am about to run out of time—about consultation. It is important to note that the minister will be conducting a roundtable in April this year to continue engagement with the sector, and that is important. (Time expired.)
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: This discussion is concluded.
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