27th Feb 2020, 12:26 PM – Senate Motions - Child Care - Parents undertaking study

The same number of senators voted for and against a motion introduced by NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi (Greens), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) it is women who remain disproportionately more likely to arrange childcare and are assessed under the Government's 'activity test' to access childcare support, and

(ii) under the government's 'activity test', only parents who undertake approved courses of education or study meet the activity test requirements;

(b) considers that:

(i) it wrong that parents studying Masters degrees or PhDs that are not approved by the government do not meet the activity test requirements, and

(ii) this discriminates against women participating in education; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to extend eligibility for childcare support to all parents undertaking education or study.