Senator HUMPHRIES (3:12 PM) —I rise in this matter to indicate that, in the course of the remarks made by Senator Collins, I have heard very little to effectively cast much of a shadow over the government's plans on developing more real child-care options for Australian families. The fact is that this government does have a national agenda on child care. Developing that agenda has been a priority for this government and for ministers responsible for this area—particularly the minister in the other place, Mr Anthony. In setting and developing that agenda, we have seen a focus on child care that has not been matched by those opposite during the time that they were in government. I will come shortly to the reality of how child-care options have improved in the last seven years under this government and how in reality there are much better choices available to Australians as a result of the work put in by the Australian government.

I found it difficult to follow the argument put forward by Senator Collins. I found it hard to see the basis on which the shadow minister felt that the government had fallen down in this area. She pointed out that, in remarks in 2002—presumably in the House of Representatives—Mr Anthony thanked other ministers who were working quietly behind the scenes. He thanked the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, the Attorney-General, the Minister for Health and Ageing, and the Minister for Education, Science and Training but he failed to thank the Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Vanstone. My response to that is: so what? What exactly do the opposition think they are achieving in this debate by making those sorts of comments? What kind of traction are the opposition hoping to gain on issues of importance in this place when that is the kind of argument they bring forward in this debate?

I would rather look at what has actually changed for Australian families in the course of the last seven or so years to determine whether we are making headway in giving Australian families access and choice in the area of child care. The facts, not the rhetoric, are quite impressive. I think that what this government is doing about fee increases facing families, about access to affordable child care and about the number of child-care places in Australia speaks for itself. There has been a record allocation of around $8 billion over the four years from 2002-03 to 2005-06. More than $7 billion was delivered to child care in the first six years that this government was in office, until 2001-02. That represents an increase of over 70 per cent in real terms, compared with Labor's six years in office, yet the opposition in this place have the temerity to rise and tell us that we are not doing enough about child care. There has been a 70 per cent increase in allocation from the federal government to child care, yet those opposite complain. I would like to know what they think they could have done better with that additional $7 billion.

Fee increases for centres have halved. Average increases since 1996 have been 4.3 per cent per annum, compared with an average increase of 8.5 per cent per annum during the years that Labor was in office. That is a practical step towards making child care more affordable for Australian families. Child-care fees have increased by only 5.3 per cent since June 2000. The CPI over that period of time increased by 12 per cent. That says that the relative cost of child care is decreasing and that the cost of child care has increased far less than general prices in Australia. That is an impressive achievement. That is something that the government should be given credit for, but we hear none of that from those opposite. Child-care benefits have provided substantial increases in assistance for most families, boosted by indexation of three per cent on 3 July this year. The maximum assistance now available to Australian families is $137 per week for one child and $286.36 per week for two children. (Time expired)