3. Question No. 3—Social Development and EmploymentSTEPH LEWIS (Labour—Whanganui) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 3—Social Development and Employment3. STEPH LEWIS (Labour—Whanganui) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What announcements has she made about making childcare more affordable?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): On Sunday I joined the Prime Minister in announcing increases to the income thresholds for the childcare assistance subsidy and Out of School Care and Recreation subsidy as well as increases to the Working for Families tax credits. These changes will see childcare made more affordable for over 50 percent of New Zealand families with children nearly every sole parent in New Zealand becoming eligible for childcare assistance and 10000 additional children being afforded the opportunity to learn and thrive in early childhood education and out-of-school care. Hon Michael Wood: That's awesome.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: This is a smart policy—thank you—that underlines our Government's commitment to helping families manage the cost of living.Steph Lewis: What do these changes respond to?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: The last National Government cut and froze income thresholds—SPEAKER: Order! The member shouldn't use supplementaries to attack the Opposition OK? So just answer the question.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: The changes made by the previous Government saw the number of children supported by these subsidies plummet by half from over 52000 in 2010 to fewer than 24000 this year. This created a barrier to work for many parents—usually women—exacerbating workforce shortages and in some instances keeping more New Zealanders reliant on a benefit. These changes reverse the previous Government's freeze provide more financial support for childcare and make it easier for parents to take up work. Supporting childcare is good for parents good for our tamariki and good for the workforce and economy.Steph Lewis: What will these changes mean for families?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: There are numerous scenarios but I'd like to reiterate the one that the Prime Minister used. The policy means a family with two parents both working 40 hours per week on $26 per hour with two children under five who will not have been eligible for childcare assistance now will be eligible for $252 per week from 1 April 2023. We make no apologies for putting families first in ensuring our kids get the opportunity to have the best possible start in education and in life.Steph Lewis: What are the long-term trends in Government support for childcare?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Last year we also indexed childcare assistance income thresholds to increases in average wage. Additionally we've also delivered on our manifesto commitments to lift core benefits to historic levels reinstate the training incentive allowance allow child support to be passed on to sole parents on top of investments made through the Families Package. This compares to the previous National Government's $57 million cut from childcare subsidies. I back our track record over National's any day. Steph Lewis: What feedback has she seen on the announcement? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I was pleased to read that Whānau Manaaki Kindergarten Association chief executive Amanda Coulston has welcomed our announcement. She said—quote—Back in 2010 there was a freeze on the income threshold and since then it's been incredibly hard to actually access the subsidy. … The announcement would alleviate the stress many families faced in terms of prohibitive costs for childcare."—end quote."