Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management) (14:53): Thank you, Senator Green. I know this is a topic very dear to your heart, with baby Stevie now participating in early childhood education herself, and what a bright young woman she will turn out to be, I have no doubt. The Albanese government has made early learning a priority of our first year. We've done this because we know how important affordable early learning is. We know that for too many families the cost of early learning has put it out of reach. Unfortunately, under the Liberals and Nationals, out-of-pocket costs for early learning went up by 49 per cent, and that is not helping cost-of-living pressures, I don't think—is it? We, on the other hand, are taking action to ease cost-of-living pressures on Australian families by making early learning more affordable. From July our changes to the childcare subsidy will boost the maximum subsidy rate to 90 per cent for families earning $80,000 or less. Senator Rennick interjecting— Senator WATT: Gerard, we know you don't like child care, and we know what you have said about Dorothy and child care and things like that. The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, I do remind you to direct your answers to the chair. Senator Rennick? Senator Rennick: On a point of order: could he withdraw that. I very much care about child care. There is no more important role than mothers and fathers play in raising their children. The PRESIDENT: Senator Rennick, that is not a point of order. I don't believe Senator Watt was reflecting on you adversely. Senator Watt, please— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator McGrath interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator McGrath, you are out of order. Senator Wong? Senator Wong: Senator McGrath's disrespect of you— Senator McGrath: I withdraw. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left! When there is silence I will respond. Senator Rennick, I did not understand that that was what Senator Watt said, but, as he said it, I will invite him, if he thinks it needs to be withdrawn, to withdraw it. Senator Watt: I'm happy to review the Hansard. But I'm also happy to withdraw. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator Watt: Calm down! Calm down. Under your bellowing— The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, please resume your seat and, once again, please address your responses to me. I asked you—and I didn't explain this fully and my apologies if I didn't. In the spirit of goodwill, if it upset Senator Rennick, as it appears to have done, I'm inviting you to withdraw. Senator McGrath: I withdraw. The PRESIDENT: And Senator Watt? Senator Watt: I withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Thank you. Senator Watt: And, under Senator McGrath's bellowing, I was actually saying that I was withdrawing. The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, I'm going to ask you to sit down again. That is very unhelpful. When I ask senators to with— Senator McKenzie: Kick him out! The PRESID ENT: Order! And that is unhelpful as well, Senator McKenzie! When I ask senators to withdraw, I ask them to just withdraw without adding any other comments, and I'm going to invite you to do that. Senator Watt: I withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Thank you. An honourable senator interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Whoever did that calling out then, that also was very unhelpful and disrespectful. If I ask a senator to withdraw in this place, I'm doing it— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Order across the chamber! When senators are asked to withdraw, it is a serious matter and it should be treated that way. Minister, please continue. Senator WATT: As I was saying, from July our changes to the childcare subsidy will boost the maximum subsidy rate to 90 per cent for families earning $80,000 or less. We're also boosting the subsidy rates for around 96 per cent of families with a child in care who are earning under $530,000. Our changes will also introduce a base level of 36 subsidised hours of early learning per fortnight for First Nations children. First Nations children will have access to the base level of subsidised hours regardless of their family activities. These changes will deliver more affordable early childhood education and care for around 1.2 million families, including 265,000 in rural and regional Australia. Our reforms will help more children access the powerful benefits of early childhood education and provide real cost-of-living relief for families. We're making these changes because we know that investing in early education is good for children, it's good for families and it's good for the country. The PRESIDENT: Senator Green, first supplementary?