Labor has promised to a universal childcare subsidy as part of a plan to boost women's employment.Credit:Peter Braig
UnderOpposition leader Anthony Albanese's $6.2 billion plan,parents who earn the least would have 90 per cent of their childcare fees covered - up from 85 per cent now. Labor would also scrap the annual $10,560 subsidy cap that now applies to households earning more than $190,000,and offer help with fees to families earning up to $530,000.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this last change would mean the nation's richest parents were big beneficiaries,saying under the Coalition"all the money was spent"on low- and middle-income families.
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"There are many unanswered questions about what the Leader of the Opposition said the other night. You know,for the most part,we'll file it under'fiction',"he said.
Labor's plan has an even taper rate down to zero,meaning the more a family earns the less subsidy parents receive. However,the party wants to eventually subsidise 90 per cent of everyone's fees.
"We make no apologies for the fact that this is not a welfare measure,"Mr Albanese said on Friday,using similar language to Mr Morrison when,as social services minister,he redesigned the childcare payments system.
"If you're a police officer married to a teacher,then you're losing money and you're discouraged from working full-time."