Ms MACKLIN —My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Family Services. Is the minister aware that some parents are paying up to $9,000 a year for child care, more than the cost of some top private schools? Does the minister realise that these high child-care fees are taking away choices from Australian families? Is this part of the government's cradle to grave attack on Australian families?

Mr WARWICK SMITH —The honourable member's question is indeed surprising, because it was only in this House yesterday that the new Child Care Payments Bill, which was subject to detailed consultation with the child-care sector in this country, was passed with amendments from the Senate with the support of the Labor Party. The new major changes to child-care payments arrangements in this country were passed yesterday with the support of the Labor Party. The reason the bill was passed is that it gives $4.9 billion over four years for child-care assistance in this country; an extra 83,000 places over four years for additional child-care places in this country; a $1.2 billion allocation this year, which is an increase of 18 per cent over two years; a school-age care policy with an increase of $11 million over four years; better planning—I heard the shadow minister herself say that the better planning processes were absolutely necessary for future stability in the child-care industry in this community—and continued commitment to quality. These are the issues that are important.

The concerns that she has related are matters that were raised yesterday regarding a survey conducted at the New South Wales government's expense. It was a survey for half a day: if you have a problem, ring up Bob Carr so he can stand up on the evening television and make a big person of himself.

You know that the child-care payments legislation passed was far better for this nation than what you did. You had 13 years to deal with these issues and you did not do that. You ignored it. This is part of your approach to politics in this country—now we are going to pick on the children.