This bill became law on Feb 20th, 2025.
Education & skills
Australian families eligible for the Child Care SubsidyThe main Commonwealth payment that cuts the fee families pay for approved child care on this page. now get at least 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and careThe child care and early learning system the bill is changing, covering care for young children before school. each fortnight, even if they do little or no paid work, study or volunteering.
The Child Care SubsidyThe main Commonwealth payment that cuts the fee families pay for approved child care on this page. activity testThe old rule that linked subsidised child care hours to how much a parent worked, studied or volunteered. left some families with only 0 or 36 subsidised care hours a fortnight unless they met recognised activity rules. This bill replaces that test with a three-day guarantee of 72 hours for all eligible families and 100 hours for families caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.
Since 2018, the Child Care SubsidyThe main Commonwealth payment that cuts the fee families pay for approved child care on this page. activity testThe old rule that linked subsidised child care hours to how much a parent worked, studied or volunteered. had tied subsidised care hours to parents' work, study or volunteering, leaving some eligible families with only 0 or 36 hours a fortnight and, as speakers in the 2025 debate argued, shutting many children out of early learning. The Albanese government responded by introducing the Three Day GuaranteeThe new rule that gives eligible families at least 72 subsidised hours each fortnight without needing to meet the old activity test. Bill in February 2025 as a step towards a more universal system, and after Parliament passed it and Royal AssentThe final approval step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. was granted, the law set a new minimum of 72 subsidised hours a fortnight, with 100 hours for families caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.
The main criticism was that giving more families subsidised child care hours will not help much where places do not exist, and could worsen pressure on already scarce services while pushing up costs. Coalition speakers made this the core case against the bill, and Helen Haines broadly backed the reform but similarly warned that access will stay limited without more rural supply.
Anne Aly MP introduced this bill. In the Senate final vote, support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, some crossbench members; opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, UAP, some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 20 Feb 2025
Final passage
Recorded final vote
2 counted final-passage votes were recorded.
Passage speed
15 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Australian families eligible for the Child Care SubsidyThe main Commonwealth payment that cuts the fee families pay for approved child care on this page. now get at least 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and careThe child care and early learning system the bill is changing, covering care for young children before school. each fortnight, even if they do little or no paid work, study or volunteering.
Parents and carers who do more than 48 hours of recognised work, study or similar activities in a fortnight can receive 100 subsidised care hours instead of the 72-hour minimum.
Families caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child now get 100 subsidised care hours each fortnight, lifting this support from the previous 36 hours.
The new subsidy rules start from the first Child Care SubsidyThe main Commonwealth payment that cuts the fee families pay for approved child care on this page. fortnight beginning after the law starts, so family entitlements do not change halfway through a fortnight.
The Minister can make extra transition rules to manage the change to the new child care subsidyThe main Commonwealth payment that cuts the fee families pay for approved child care on this page. settings if practical issues arise during the rollout.
The CCS activity test determines the maximum number of hours per fortnight of subsidised ECEC a child is entitled to, based on time spent by parents and carers undertaking ‘recognised activities’, including paid work, study and volunteering. Families who do not undertake sufficient recognised activity may currently receive 0 or 36 hours of CCS per fortnight (unless an exception applies). The amendments in Schedule 1 will replace the current CCS activity test and provide a guaranteed minimum of 72 hours per fortnight of subsidised ECEC for all families, regardless of the time spent on recognised participation types, and a guaranteed 100 hour entitlement per fortnight for parents caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) explanatory memorandum
An individual engaged in more than 48 hours of a recognised participation type in the CCS fortnight will be entitled to an increased hours result of 100 (set out in new subclause 12(1)). This is intended to recognise that individuals engaging in more than 48 hours of work or study may require additional subsidised hours.Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) explanatory memorandum
Item 50 will increase the entitlement for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child from 36 hours to 100 hours. The 3 day guarantee provides a baseline entitlement of 72 hours per fortnight for all families. Families caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child will be entitled to a higher entitlement of 100 hours per fortnight.Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) explanatory memorandum
Item 1 is an application provision that provides that the Family Assistance Act and Family Assistance Administration Act as amended by Schedule 1 of the Bill will apply in relation to sessions of care provided to a child in a CCS fortnight that begins on or after the day of commencement of this Act. This provision clarifies that the new entitlement structure and related amendments will take effect for sessions of care provided in the CCS fortnights beginning on or after the commencement date of the Act. This ensures a clear transition point for families and providers, allowing them to prepare for the new arrangements and avoid confusion regarding entitlement. What was previously called the activity test result, and will be known as subsidised hours, is an allotment of hours that can be used at any time during the CCS fortnight, depending on what suits the individual. It is not practicable for a person’s entitlement to change midway through the CCS fortnight. Therefore, the application provision ensures that the changes apply to sessions of care provided from the start of the first CCS fortnight after commencement.Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) explanatory memorandum
Item 3 empowers the Minister to make transitional rules relating to amendments made by Schedule 1. This power may be used to make rules prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions).Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) explanatory memorandum
Context
Since 2018, the Child Care SubsidyThe main Commonwealth payment that cuts the fee families pay for approved child care on this page. activity testThe old rule that linked subsidised child care hours to how much a parent worked, studied or volunteered. had tied subsidised care hours to parents' work, study or volunteering, leaving some eligible families with only 0 or 36 hours a fortnight and, as speakers in the 2025 debate argued, shutting many children out of early learning. The Albanese government responded by introducing the Three Day GuaranteeThe new rule that gives eligible families at least 72 subsidised hours each fortnight without needing to meet the old activity test. Bill in February 2025 as a step towards a more universal system, and after Parliament passed it and Royal AssentThe final approval step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. was granted, the law set a new minimum of 72 subsidised hours a fortnight, with 100 hours for families caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.
Child Care SubsidyThe main Commonwealth payment that cuts the fee families pay for approved child care on this page. activity testThe old rule that linked subsidised child care hours to how much a parent worked, studied or volunteered. links care hours to recognised activity
Speakers in the 2025 debate said the Morrison government introduced the activity testThe old rule that linked subsidised child care hours to how much a parent worked, studied or volunteered. in 2018, requiring parents to work, study or volunteer to qualify for subsidised care hours.
Hansard ↗Government introduces the Three Day GuaranteeThe new rule that gives eligible families at least 72 subsidised hours each fortnight without needing to meet the old activity test. Bill
The minister introduced the bill as a step towards a universal early learning system that would be simpler, more affordable and more accessible for families.
Hansard ↗Parliament hears the activity testThe old rule that linked subsidised child care hours to how much a parent worked, studied or volunteered. was locking children out of early learning
During the House debate, MPs argued the test had denied around 125,000 children access to early childhood education and had especially hurt low-income families.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way to replace the activity testThe old rule that linked subsidised child care hours to how much a parent worked, studied or volunteered. with a new subsidy minimum.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe final approval step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turns the bill into law
Royal AssentThe final approval step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. completed the legislation so the new Child Care SubsidyThe main Commonwealth payment that cuts the fee families pay for approved child care on this page. settings could commence from the first subsidy fortnight after the law started.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Referred to Committee (06/02/2025): Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (14/03/2025)
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Recorded vote: 88 to 53.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Recorded vote: 35 to 33.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 32 to 26.
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final approval step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that giving more families subsidised child care hours will not help much where places do not exist, and could worsen pressure on already scarce services while pushing up costs. Coalition speakers made this the core case against the bill, and Helen Haines broadly backed the reform but similarly warned that access will stay limited without more rural supply.
Most criticism focused on access, capacity and costing rather than opposing early childhood education itself.
No new places where services are already full
Critics argued the bill mainly changes subsidy eligibility, not service supply, so families in child care deserts may gain a formal entitlement without being able to use it. This concern was especially pointed at rural and regional communities with few or no available centres.
Pressure on fees and available places
Opponents said expanding subsidised access without fixing workforce and capacity shortages could intensify competition for places and leave families still facing high fees. They argued the bill does not solve the underlying affordability and availability problems in the system.
Working-family priority and unclear cost
Some opponents argued the bill unfairly removes priority for families already balancing work and care, while also being inadequately explained and costed by the government. They said the policy was presented as a simple guarantee without a convincing account of its budget impact or trade-offs.
Further sources
Votes
The chamber-passage votes come first. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed 32 to 26. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Passed 32 to 26. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Earlier bill-stage votes
Passed 88 to 53. Support came from Labor, Greens, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Passed 32 to 26. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Passed 35 to 33. Support came from Labor, Greens, and Australia's Voice. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Passed 32 to 26. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.
House
Defeated 7 to 55. Support came from Greens. Opposition came from Labor and Liberal Party. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
This was a procedural attempt to speed up consideration of the bill. It was defeated, so debate continued rather than being cut short.
Passed 78 to 59. Support came from Labor and Greens. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
This was another procedural attempt to move the bill along more quickly. It was carried, allowing the House to proceed to the next question.
Passed 91 to 53. Support came from Labor, Greens, Centre Alliance, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
This was a timetable motion to keep the bill moving and finish related proceedings in one block. It was carried, letting the House continue without interruption.
Senate
Passed 32 to 26. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
This was a procedural motion to accelerate the bill's progress through the Senate. It was carried.
Defeated 27 to 32. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
This was a procedural vote, not a final vote on whether the bill would become law.
The Senate rejected Senator Hodgins-May's proposal on voices, which would have added a call on the Government to ensure early childhood education is universal, free and high-quality across Australia.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Anne Aly supports the bill and says it is a key step toward a universal early learning system that gives families at least three days of subsidised care.
Read in Hansard ↗Chester opposes the bill.
Read in Hansard ↗Steggall supports the bill and says it is a welcome first step toward more universal, affordable child care for working families.
Read in Hansard ↗Ryan supports the bill and says it is an improvement because it expands subsidised childcare access, but she argues it does not go far enough because the activity testThe old rule that linked subsidised child care hours to how much a parent worked, studied or volunteered. should be abolished entirely.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
22 speakers · 22 support
“Again, I come back to the fact that this is what this particular bill is all about—making sure that every child in Australia gets the best possible start in life. Every child in Australia does have the right to the best possible start in life, to a quality early education. The activity test introduced by those opposite has been a barrier for those families who most need that access, and we are taking it away. We are supporting Australian families. We are supporting Australian women. We are doing the work to build our country, to make sure that there is a positive future, and we are doing it while supporting early educators. We are doing it while bringing costs down for families. This is the work we will continue to do in the face of opposition from those on the other side, in the face of an opposition that cannot see when a measure is good for Australian families and good for Australian women and, in fact, that actively works against our efforts to support the lives of Australian women and Australian families. We won't be deterred. We will continue the work up, and I am very pleased to support this bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Now, what are we going to do here? It's really important. What we're going to do specifically in this bill is guarantee three days of high-quality early education. The three-day guarantee is going to replace the current activity test, which is the bane of parents, by the way, with guaranteed eligibility for three days a week of subsidised early education for children who need it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill is another step in our plan to build a universal early education system and—an economic point here—it saves parents around $1,370 in the first financial year. It replaces the former activity test put forward by the former coalition government, the Liberal government, with a new three-day guarantee in early education.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“So I'm very proud that this policy change to bring affordable, accessible and quality child care within the reach of more people is going through this parliament, and I would really urge those opposite to support it. There's nothing better that we can do than invest in our young people. We all know that investing in things that prevent problems down the track is such a better use of taxpayer dollars than dealing with issues later down the track. This is exactly what this bill will do. It will ease things for families, and I commend it to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It gives me great pleasure and pride to be here supporting the Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025. I do so because we on this side want to make sure that every child gets the best possible start in life, and we believe that every child has the right to go to early education, to help make sure they don't start school behind.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“As the member for Bean, which is home to thousands of young families, I'm pleased to speak in support of this bill. But let's be clear. The Liberals won't support cost-of-living relief for early education and care or kids need access to ECEC, but they will support free lunches for bosses. We know that these legislative changes will be on the chopping block, but they won't be on the menu after the election if the Leader of the Opposition gets his way.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This three-day guarantee is about making sure that every child can have the best start in life. It's about ensuring that we get rid of the Liberals' activity test, which locked out children and families. Instead, we have put in Labor's three-day guarantee. It's a crucial step in delivering on the commitment to universal early learning.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In this bill, the government wants to ensure that we replace the unfair activity test that left children at a disadvantage and instead guarantee three days of subsidised early childhood education and care for the children who need it. It will mean all families will be eligible for at least 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care per fortnight regardless of activity levels.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I commend this bill to the chamber.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The three-day guarantee helps do exactly that because, by guaranteeing 72 hours of subsidised early childhood and care and giving families unconditional and affordable access to these essential services, no matter who they are or what they earn, we take another step towards ensuring families can live without those pressures, towards ending cycles of poverty in the north and towards ensuring our children can live the way they should. I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill gets rid of the Liberals' activity test and replaces it with a guarantee of access to three days a week of government supported early education and care for every child who needs it. It's still means tested, but it means that families will not be left out because parents are looking for work or preparing to go back to study.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill replaces the Liberals' outdated activity test with a simple, fair guarantee: three days a week of subsidised early education for every family. This bill redefines how we support our children and their families. There won't be penalties for parents who aren't working a set number of hours—just a simple commitment that every child, regardless of their background, should get the best start in life. I can't believe those opposite cannot support that idea. The three-day guarantee boosts access to early childhood education and care and ensures an opportunity that those on this side of the House believe that every child deserves.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This legislation is the next step towards that, and I'm pleased that it will pass the House and the Senate today, to make that step towards reality and to make sure that every child can access at least three days of subsidy for high-quality early education and care.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Albanese Labor government believes that every child deserves access to quality early child care and also education. That is why we are building a universal early childhood education system, one that is simple, affordable and accessible for every family. We are abolishing the activity test, guaranteeing three days a fortnight of child care for every Australian family so that all Australians get the best start in life. We are investing $1 billion to expand childcare places in suburbs like Hampton Park, Clyde, Cranbourne West and Botanic Ridge to make sure that happens. Labor believes every child has the right to go to school and, just as importantly, the right to early education. This is why we are supporting families, strengthening the early education system and laying the groundwork for Australia's future success. We are building Australia's future. We are doing it by investing in our youngest. I want to thank the Minister for Education, Jason Clare, and the Minister for Youth, Dr Anne Aly, for driving these reforms and ensuring that all Australians have the best start in life. I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Albanese Labor government believes that every child has the right to early education, to help make sure that they don't start school behind. The three-day guarantee ensures that all children, regardless of their parents' work or study status, have access to that quality early learning.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is a moment to put the youngest children of Australia first by opening up and guaranteeing access to early childhood education. I encourage people to support this bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Leaders from across the early education sector support this change. The experts support it, the educators support it and families welcome it. I believe parliamentarians across a broad range of backgrounds representing electorates from across the country also support it. I ask the Liberal and National parties to put Australian children first, to show their support and to help our nation grasp this opportunity for our future. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“And so this bill ensures that all children, regardless of their background, regardless of where they live and regardless of their parents' means and income, have access to a three-day guarantee of early childhood education.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The bill before us thankfully replaces the former coalition government's disastrous activity test with a new three-day guarantee to early education from 5 January 2026. All families will be guaranteed three days or 72 hours of childcare subsidy each fortnight. For families caring for First Nations children, there will be a guaranteed 100 hours of childcare subsidy per fortnight. Families who work, study or train will continue to be eligible for the 100 hours of the childcare subsidy each fortnight. This reform will increase entitlements for over 100,000 families, with 66,700 families expected to be better off in the first full financial year of operation. For example, families earning between $50,000 and $100,000 will save, on average, $1,460 per year. This provides genuine cost-of-living relief for those families, on top of Labor's tax cuts and energy bill assistance.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“That's why our government is introducing the three-day guarantee. We believe government should be here to guarantee your child has access to quality early learning, to guarantee that learning will be high quality and affordable, and to guarantee that if you choose to go back to work you can do so.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise today to support the Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025 and wholeheartedly endorse the Albanese government's three-day guarantee. I'm proud to be part of a government that truly recognises the value of early education and is taking real steps to support young families across the country. I'm determined to see our little ones better equipped, better educated and better prepared for their schooling journey.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I understand how important it is for us to get to universal education and I understand how important this three-day guarantee is for families, and, not just for families, I know how important this three-day guarantee is for our youngest Australians across our country.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
14 speakers · 15 contributions · 14 oppose
“As I said at the outset, I believe that across the chamber there is enormous goodwill towards achieving the best possible outcome for young people and giving them the best possible start through access to early childhood education and care. Where I think we are failing today is in relation to those three key areas of accessibility, affordability and choice.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition will be opposing this legislation, and we are doing so for a number of reasons. There are several issues with this bill, including the removal of priority access for working families—and I'll talk a bit more about that later. It also de-incentivises aspiration, it increases access without addressing supply issues, it does nothing to increase the access or flexibility for families and it does not address the current cost-of-living pressures.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Would the government please explain to us how we in the country are meant to collect on this guarantee of three days a week when there is no place to put our children into care. Are we expected to transport them 500 kilometres to Adelaide and put them into child care for the day? It is not a guarantee unless there's a guarantee in it, and there's no guarantee in this. It is a complete snubbing of people that live in the country and their needs.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“They deserve better than a government that only cares about the headlines it can generate, not the impact that its policies will have on hardworking Australian families who need to access early-childhood education and care. That is why the coalition will vote against this legislation.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Limiting child care for working families is a productivity-sapping measure, and I think we should oppose it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition will oppose this legislation. This bill is flawed in a number of ways. It increases access—or demand—without addressing supply issues. It removes priority access for working families. It disincentivises aspiration to be working, studying or volunteering if not taking care of one's children. It does nothing to increase access or flexibility for families and does not address current cost-of-living pressures. Of particular note is the fact it does nothing to help solve the unique problems faced by rural and regional families like those in my electorate of Mallee.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Removing priority access for working families is a terrible decision by Labor. I can only imagine how this will pit family against family where there are and where there will be no childcare places available for the families who need it most.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“There are several issues with this bill, including the removal of priority access for working families. It disincentivises aspiration, it increases access without addressing supply issues—something that I was talking about earlier—and it does nothing to increase access or flexibility for families.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition will oppose this legislation. There are several issues with this bill, including the removal of priority access for working families. It disincentivises aspiration, increases access without addressing supply issues, does nothing to increase access or flexibility for families and does not address the current cost-of-living pressures.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In the end, what this government are doing yet again is legislating a poorly thought-out and poorly designed quick fix that gives them a headline on the eve of a federal election so that they can have the corflute campaign that they want to run. But Australians will see through this, and they should see through it, because it'll be sold that the three-day guarantee is kind of sounding like it's free—but it's not.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“For all the reasons I've outlined above, we oppose this bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The reason that the coalition opposes this legislation predominantly is it does remove the priority access for working families. In that way, we say it disincentivises aspiration and increases access without addressing supply issues.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Aaron Violi on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Violi opposes the bill and says Labor cannot justify its costing or explain the real impact of removing the activity testThe old rule that linked subsidised child care hours to how much a parent worked, studied or volunteered. for three days. He argues the government is overselling the policy while hiding a likely much larger cost.
“That's why with every piece of legislation and every commitment from this government we should understand what their costings are. They've estimated that this is going to cost $426.7 million over four years, but the true impact of removing the activity test for three days is not yet fully known. The department is unable to advise how many families are eligible for the childcare subsidy but not enrolling their children. So we've got a situation where Treasury have given an estimate—and I must say that after some of the estimates we've seen from departments in the last few weeks we should question those—but they don't know how many children are eligible. So we would love to know where that costing comes from.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Violi says the opposition will not support the bill because it expands subsidised child care without fixing the shortage of places, especially in regional and peri-urban childcare deserts. He argues it removes priority access for working families and does not address rising costs or supply constraints.
“When families in my community are experiencing such difficulties, it's hard to support this legislation, because it does not guarantee or prioritise access for working families who need early childhood care so they can work. But those who are not working, studying or volunteering will also be subsidised, and, over the last three years, Labor has failed to meaningfully address supply-side constraints. Families in childcare deserts who have little to no access to childcare at all will be the most disadvantaged by this policy.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“What Labor is proposing is a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn't work for all Australian families. The Albanese government has left the coalition with no choice but to oppose this bill, because it does nothing to address the real challenges facing parents and carers alike. Instead of making child care more affordable and accessible for those who need it most, Labor is introducing a politically motivated scheme that will increase competition for places without increasing supply. We all know Economics 101: supply and demand is indicative of price and service.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“Of course, the Greens have a much more expansive childcare policy. We think it should be completely universal and free for everyone because we think that access to early childhood education is just as important as access to primary and secondary school. You wouldn't countenance charging, sometimes, thousands of dollars of fees to prohibit people from accessing primary or secondary school, so why would you do it for early childhood education? Notwithstanding the fact that often when you're trying to get the subsidies under these schemes it's deeply complex, and it almost feels like you need a master's degree to get through it—notwithstanding all of that and our much more expansive policy—we have put that aside and said that we will not demand one single amendment in return for the passage of this bill. We will pass it unamended. I hope that there are ministers and people in charge of the Labor Party watching this right now and understanding that this is our message to the Labor Party here. We will pass it. The choice that the Labor Party has is to take that olive branch and use it to get it through the House and Senate as quickly as possible.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
7 speakers · 7 support
“So I very much support the implementation of full, universal access to child care for this minimum of three days, and this bill is a welcome start.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Universal early childhood education has the potential to be a game-changer for Australian children and families, and for our economy now and into the future. Universal early childhood education has the potential to benefit children through quality learning environments, to reduce financial pressure on parents, to reduce gender inequity and to enhance economic outcomes for Australia. For that reason, I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Today, I speak in support of the Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025. I support this bill because it's another step towards an Australia where all children and their parents can access the child care they need, when they want to.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I can't tell you how pleased I am, then, to say that, with the Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025, the government is moving Australia towards my community's final recommendations and aspirations, and we could not be more pleased with this reform.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“That is why the removal of the activity test is so important, and that is why I'm supporting the bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“For now this bill is a small but important step; however, I am disappointed that this legislation in the last days of this parliament is being referred to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee. It should be debated and passed this week. This is too critical to get caught up in delaying tactics and political games. There is no need for a Senate inquiry. The weight of evidence is there.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise in support of the Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025, which removes the activity test for early childhood education and care. Child care is important for children and for families. The activity test, which requires that parents are working or studying in order to get subsidised child care, is based on an assumption that early childhood education and care is a benefit for parents but not for kids.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 88 to 53.
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 35 to 33.
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 32 to 26.
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final approval step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (14/03/2025)
Referred to committee
Referred to Committee (6 Feb 2025): Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (14 Mar 2025)
APH bill page notes
