Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) (14:23): Again, thank you very much for that question, Senator, because it now gives me an opportunity to talk not just about the pay rise we provided to early childhood educators but about the cut in childcare fees that the Albanese Labor government is providing families all around Australia. As a result of the policies that the Albanese Labor government has brought in, we now see childcare fees reduced by 11 per cent, on average, for Australian families. That is a direct result of our policies. The PRESIDENT: Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Hodgins-May? Senator Hodgins-May: A point of order, Speaker: I specifically asked about the abolishing of the activity test, and I would refer the minister to my question. The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong? Senator Wong: Two points. First, the minister has only had 22 seconds; I'm sure he will get to that point. The second point is— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator Wong: I'm sure he will. I have great faith in Senator Watt. The second point is: Senator, you actually made an assertion about the cost of child care, so the minister is entitled to respond to that assertion. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Minister Wong. Order! First of all, Senator Hodgins-May, I'm the President, not the Speaker. Secondly, you did refer to fee hikes at the start of your question and you talked about women not being able to go to work, so the minister is entitled to canvass those issues in his response. Please continue, Minister Watt. Senator WATT: Thank you, President. The issues that Senator Hodgins-May is talking about have been the subject of a number of reviews that have been presented to the government and they are matters we are considering. But in the meantime, what we are actually doing is making child care cheaper for Australian families, another thing the coalition opposed—let's not forget about them—with the ACCC finding that out-of-pocket expenses for centre based daycare decreased by 11 per cent on average between June and September 2023. Again, it takes a rare talent to complain about childcare fees being reduced. It takes a rare talent to complain about early childhood pay but you are up to the job. (Time expired)