Senator Duncan Spender of the Liberal Democrats has become the first parliamentarian to have costings published by the Parliamentary Budget Office this election.
"I propose that government-funded paid parental leave be abolished, as it is only available to parents who were in the paid workforce just prior to a child's birth, and so discriminates against stay-at-home parents.
Government-funded paid parental leave amounts to $13,000 pre-tax. Abolishing it would save taxpayers $2 billion each year.
"I also propose cuts to child care subsidy.
"At the very least, child care subsidy should not be available for the care of babies under 18 weeks of age. Such immediate institutionalisation of babies is not in their best interests.
"To give parents choice between high-cost and low-cost child care, the blanket requirement for all child care centres to have tertiary-qualified staff and low child-to-carer ratios should be removed. This would reduce fees, with a flow-on benefit for taxpayers of lowering subsidies.
"Child care subsidies should be cut, at least for high income households who currently receive subsidies of up to $10,190 per child per year, but who would continue to use child care without subsidies.
"Abolishing all child care subsidies would save taxpayers $3 billion each year. Removing subsidies just for high income households would save taxpayers $20 million each year.
"Cutting child care subsidies is fair for childless Australians, including those who desperately want to have their own children but cannot. Childless Australians shouldn't be forced to pay huge sums through their taxes to those who have received the gift of children.
"Government shouldn't interfere in decisions about whether to be a stay-at-home parent or whether to re-join the paid workforce and use child care. Government should just reduce the income tax faced by those in the paid workforce, in line with the Liberal Democrats' policy.
