Well, if you had fifty million dollars, you probably wouldn't have to worry about childcare subsidies, would you. Parents will no longer have to work or study to be eligible for childcare subsidies, and the federal government will spend up to one billion dollars funding centers in under serviced areas. It's a major step by Prime Minister Anthony Albaneasy towards delivering universal and affordable early education. Senator Matt Canavan joins me now, Senator, childcare reforms will long overdue, won't they.

Well, if you had fifty million dollars, you probably wouldn't have to worry about childcare subsidies, would you. Parents will no longer have to work or study to be eligible for childcare subsidies, and the federal government will spend up to one billion dollars funding centers in under serviced areas. It's a major step by Prime Minister Anthony Albaneasy towards delivering universal and affordable early education. Senator Matt Canavan joins me now, Senator, childcare reforms will long overdue, won't they.

Look, we've already made major changes to childcare subsidies in recent years. The problem always seems to be the more the government subsidized at the height the fees co So there is that problem, and obviously today's announcement might just do the same, might put up a pressure on childcare fees. The broader issue though, here is that I'm not sure how this helps struggling families. Keep in mind, as you've just outlined the families that have to work two jobs for the mum and dads to work already get the subsidy. Today's decision may no difference to them, doesn't change the subsdy rate doesn't increase the amount they get. This only helps those families who don't work, who both don't work, but now will be able to get subs of those childcare. Even though it's just subsid subsidise child care, it's not one hundred percent of the cost. So in those cases, and those families that have to be able to afford to pay the gap to pay the difference between the top rate and the government subsidy to use this, that's probably only going to be families that are relatively well to do, right, those families are going to afford to pay gap in the cost living crisis, their child in childcare are probably doing okay. And keep in mind this government subsidy goes up to families who went up to five hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year. I just don't know why, well that's gone up and up over the years, that that cap and I'm just not sure. You know, in the middle of the cost of living crisis, where lots of families who are both working, who already have their kids in child care, as I say, they wouldn't benefit from this, they're strugg Yet the government's going to throw a billion dollars. If family's ending up to five hundred thousand dollars a year half a million dollars a year, I don't quite understand that that doesn't seem fair. And of course all of this extra government spending, we've got to put some serious handbrakes on that government spending is fueling inflation. It's let it making sure that they're interest rate to the highest in the world, the highest in the developed world, and that's a much bigger cost of families or families with higher interest rates in their mortgages than the childcare cost alone.

Look, we've already made major changes to childcare subsidies in recent years. The problem always seems to be the more the government subsidized at the height the fees co So there is that problem, and obviously today's announcement might just do the same, might put up a pressure on childcare fees. The broader issue though, here is that I'm not sure how this helps struggling families. Keep in mind, as you've just outlined the families that have to work two jobs for the mum and dads to work already get the subsidy. Today's decision may no difference to them, doesn't change the subsdy rate doesn't increase the amount they get. This only helps those families who don't work, who both don't work, but now will be able to get subs of those childcare. Even though it's just subsid subsidise child care, it's not one hundred percent of the cost. So in those cases, and those families that have to be able to afford to pay the gap to pay the difference between the top rate and the government subsidy to use this, that's probably only going to be families that are relatively well to do, right, those families are going to afford to pay gap in the cost living crisis, their child in childcare are probably doing okay. And keep in mind this government subsidy goes up to families who went up to five hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year. I just don't know why, well that's gone up and up over the years, that that cap and I'm just not sure. You know, in the middle of the cost of living crisis, where lots of families who are both working, who already have their kids in child care, as I say, they wouldn't benefit from this, they're strugg Yet the government's going to throw a billion dollars. If family's ending up to five hundred thousand dollars a year half a million dollars a year, I don't quite understand that that doesn't seem fair. And of course all of this extra government spending, we've got to put some serious handbrakes on that government spending is fueling inflation. It's let it making sure that they're interest rate to the highest in the world, the highest in the developed world, and that's a much bigger cost of families or families with higher interest rates in their mortgages than the childcare cost alone.

If a coalition government comes into power, would you make changes to childcare subsidies.

If a coalition government comes into power, would you make changes to childcare subsidies.

Look, sorry, gra I can't answer that question. I'm just to have a backbench or obviously the announcement by the government's been made overnight, so I don't even believe the Shadow Cabinet, which I'm not a member of. But I don't think Peter Dutton and these shadow ministers have meant to discuss this yet. I'm just stating in my views, which I'm permitted to do so from the back bench, I won't be supporting something like this. In partment. I've voted against expanded childcare subject to the very rich before because as you say, that's thinking the five twenty has gone up and up. It used to be about to eighty thousand dollars a year, which is still very generous. But I just I don't know, mate, I don't think someone earning a family earning half a million a year needs government assistance. That to me is absurd.

Look, sorry, gra I can't answer that question. I'm just to have a backbench or obviously the announcement by the government's been made overnight, so I don't even believe the Shadow Cabinet, which I'm not a member of. But I don't think Peter Dutton and these shadow ministers have meant to discuss this yet. I'm just stating in my views, which I'm permitted to do so from the back bench, I won't be supporting something like this. In partment. I've voted against expanded childcare subject to the very rich before because as you say, that's thinking the five twenty has gone up and up. It used to be about to eighty thousand dollars a year, which is still very generous. But I just I don't know, mate, I don't think someone earning a family earning half a million a year needs government assistance. That to me is absurd.

Yeah, I mean, that's the ridiculous thing that if you're earning that sort of money, you shouldn't be putting your hand out for a subsidy.

Yeah, I mean, that's the ridiculous thing that if you're earning that sort of money, you shouldn't be putting your hand out for a subsidy.

Yeah, you should look after your own I mean, if you're you're having children, when you're earning half a million dollars a year, I think you can afford to look after meself. I mean I can even I don't know that much. Our family's not half a million dollars a year, but I don't need a subsidy for my children. We miss out on subodies for unique students. They cut off at a lower rate, and that's fine. You know, we're very in My wife and I are lucky. We have the money to look out for own children. And we chose to have five children, and and you know, five children do cost you a lot. There's nout about that, but we love doing that. We made a choice to that at kids the most important things in our lives. So we're lucky to have those funds available. Obviously, some families struggle and there should be assistant for them. So I've had no problem which old care are assistant to those on average or below average incomes. Let's focus the assistance on those families.

Yeah, you should look after your own I mean, if you're you're having children, when you're earning half a million dollars a year, I think you can afford to look after meself. I mean I can even I don't know that much. Our family's not half a million dollars a year, but I don't need a subsidy for my children. We miss out on subodies for unique students. They cut off at a lower rate, and that's fine. You know, we're very in My wife and I are lucky. We have the money to look out for own children. And we chose to have five children, and and you know, five children do cost you a lot. There's nout about that, but we love doing that. We made a choice to that at kids the most important things in our lives. So we're lucky to have those funds available. Obviously, some families struggle and there should be assistant for them. So I've had no problem which old care are assistant to those on average or below average incomes. Let's focus the assistance on those families.

And this is the thing that do you think the Prime Minister has misread the mood of the public and the current cost of living strife because the headline is out of this is people earning up to five hundred and thirty thousand dollars will get the subsidy. I mean, you know, and the alarm bells go off in the community saying, you know, I don't earn a quarter of that, why are they getting.

And this is the thing that do you think the Prime Minister has misread the mood of the public and the current cost of living strife because the headline is out of this is people earning up to five hundred and thirty thousand dollars will get the subsidy. I mean, you know, and the alarm bells go off in the community saying, you know, I don't earn a quarter of that, why are they getting.

Look, I think he has because we've seen we saw something similar in the Queen's In election, which understandably you may not have focused on as much down there in South Australia, but in the last few months leading up to the Queen's In election, the sort of failing labor government just through cash around left Ron center of pre school lunches a thousand dollars off your electricity bills. It was just money grew on trees sort of approach, and none of it really helped them at all. They got tossed out and tossed out comfortably. And I just think the politics of this is as lost of currency in the middle of a crisis of inflation, because every household in the country can see how they have to tighten their belts, some more than others. But it's a tough circumstances. Right out groceries and more expensive, as I mentioned, you're mortgage payments and more expensive. Everything seems to be going up, so you've got to yourself look at your budget and cut out the slack. Whereas the government, they just see a government and they're the so called leaders just acting like you know, there's not going to rain tomorrow, and they're just throwing your money around. It's your money too. I don't think people that's filly. It's not their money. They're not giving you out of their pocket. We're either taxing you more for it, or we're borrowing from overseas for it, which will have to be repaid by future generation. So I do I think people are crying out for economic leadership at tough times. They realize the times are tough, they realize tough times require tough decisions as they make in their own life. But it's very hard to point to an Australian government right now that is willing to make those tough decisions and have tough conversations with people, and I think that's what people are losing faith and trust in their so called.

Look, I think he has because we've seen we saw something similar in the Queen's In election, which understandably you may not have focused on as much down there in South Australia, but in the last few months leading up to the Queen's In election, the sort of failing labor government just through cash around left Ron center of pre school lunches a thousand dollars off your electricity bills. It was just money grew on trees sort of approach, and none of it really helped them at all. They got tossed out and tossed out comfortably. And I just think the politics of this is as lost of currency in the middle of a crisis of inflation, because every household in the country can see how they have to tighten their belts, some more than others. But it's a tough circumstances. Right out groceries and more expensive, as I mentioned, you're mortgage payments and more expensive. Everything seems to be going up, so you've got to yourself look at your budget and cut out the slack. Whereas the government, they just see a government and they're the so called leaders just acting like you know, there's not going to rain tomorrow, and they're just throwing your money around. It's your money too. I don't think people that's filly. It's not their money. They're not giving you out of their pocket. We're either taxing you more for it, or we're borrowing from overseas for it, which will have to be repaid by future generation. So I do I think people are crying out for economic leadership at tough times. They realize the times are tough, they realize tough times require tough decisions as they make in their own life. But it's very hard to point to an Australian government right now that is willing to make those tough decisions and have tough conversations with people, and I think that's what people are losing faith and trust in their so called.

Leaders send it. On another issue, what did you make of Peter Dutton declaring you will not display the Aboriginal Torrest date under the flags during press conferences.

Leaders send it. On another issue, what did you make of Peter Dutton declaring you will not display the Aboriginal Torrest date under the flags during press conferences.

Well, look, I think we've got a united the country and we have one flag that we all stand under. I do think there's a place for the Aboriginal flag, the torrestrail, the flag in special occasions that are distinct and recognize their cultures and that part of our heritage. But as a general rule, I agree with Peter that our emphasis should be how we're united and we're one country, one nation all together, and there's been enough division, enough attempts to divide our country that this is a good step in the other direction. I actually think I've got lots of Indigenous friends, and some of them have had different views on this announcement, I understand that. I think what's happened with the proliferation of welcome to country's acknowledgement of countries, it has cheapened the recognition of our indigenous heritage. It's like anything in life yuse of too much, it loses its impact, and I think it'd be much better to save. I've got no problem with welcome to countries at certain times. That save those for special occasions. Now, every time we hit the tarmac on a plane, do we really need an acknowledgement of country? It just starts to make it a bit of a joke, and that's really unfortunate, I think for indigenous trains among us.

Well, look, I think we've got a united the country and we have one flag that we all stand under. I do think there's a place for the Aboriginal flag, the torrestrail, the flag in special occasions that are distinct and recognize their cultures and that part of our heritage. But as a general rule, I agree with Peter that our emphasis should be how we're united and we're one country, one nation all together, and there's been enough division, enough attempts to divide our country that this is a good step in the other direction. I actually think I've got lots of Indigenous friends, and some of them have had different views on this announcement, I understand that. I think what's happened with the proliferation of welcome to country's acknowledgement of countries, it has cheapened the recognition of our indigenous heritage. It's like anything in life yuse of too much, it loses its impact, and I think it'd be much better to save. I've got no problem with welcome to countries at certain times. That save those for special occasions. Now, every time we hit the tarmac on a plane, do we really need an acknowledgement of country? It just starts to make it a bit of a joke, and that's really unfortunate, I think for indigenous trains among us.

Senator always good to chat.

Senator always good to chat.

Thanks for your time, Thanks graame, cheers Mane.

Thanks for your time, Thanks graame, cheers Mane.

Senator Matt Canavan

Senator Matt Canavan