Liberal Democratic Party Senator Duncan Spender says Labor's pledge to spend an extra $4 billion over four years on childcare subsidies is wasteful and unfair.
Senator Spender said a better solution to easing the cost of childcare was to cut red tape and return to the original reason for childcare subsidies.
"Moving the goal posts on what qualification a person needs to work in childcare is one of the reasons why childcare has become prohibitively expensive. There are also increasing requirements forced on childcare centres regarding how many staff need be rostered on.
"The only justification for taxpayer-funded childcare subsidies is to keep children safe and cared for so that parents can work and pay taxes. Anything else is for the private benefit of parents and their children and should be privately funded.
"Low income Australians already enjoy subsidies of 85 per cent of their child care fees. Making child care free for these Australians is just a recipe for childcare centres to let rip on fee increases.
"Directing more of taxpayers' funds into childcare subsidies is unfair for taxpayers who are childless, including taxpayers who desperately want children. It is also unfair on those taxpayers who raised their children or are raising their children at home.
"Having children is not a social service that governments should subsidise. It is a choice that potential parents should establish they can afford, without having to rely on other people's money."
"Taxpayers already provide child care subsidies over four years totalling $35.7 billion, or more than $1,400 from every Australian."
