Opposition Leader Demands Urgent Childcare Reforms as Parliament Returns
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese demanding urgent legislative action on childcare safety and offering bipartisan support to pass new regulations when Parliament returns July 22.
Speaking in Sydney Thursday alongside the shadow minister for women, Ley said current conditions in childcare settings are "just not good enough" and called for the issue to be "front and centre" of the government's agenda.
"I have written to the Prime Minister and I have publicly asked the government to consult with us on new legislation that addresses some of these issues," Ley said. "It can't be put on the back burner with other priorities taking its place."
The opposition leader's intervention comes as Queensland becomes the first state to introduce mandatory training for childcare educators, prompting questions about whether similar measures should be implemented nationwide.
Ley emphasized the coalition's readiness to work across party lines on childcare reforms, saying Parliament should be prepared to act immediately when it resumes.
"So that in the first week of sittings, on the 22nd of July, we are ready to pass whatever legislation the Federal Parliament can in order to give effect to stronger rules and regulations," she said.
The opposition leader said parents dropping children at childcare centers "can have absolute faith that they're being protected, that they're being educated, they're being cared for."
Ley positioned herself as understanding the pressures facing working families, drawing on personal experience to connect with voters struggling with work-life balance.
"I've lived that life. I know what it feels like. I know what the struggle is when you feel like you have to do so much but you can't achieve it all," she said. "And women often take that burden on of the caring responsibilities in the home."
She cited statistics showing women continue to shoulder disproportionate caring responsibilities, using this as justification for targeted women's policies in future coalition platforms.
"The statistics tell us that it is still women who are doing all of those things and that's why we need women's policies and that will be very prominent in the policy development that we undertake," Ley said.
Liberal Party Representation Debate
Ley addressed internal Liberal Party tensions over female representation, defending ongoing discussions about gender quotas while avoiding specific commentary on party members labeled "morons" for supporting such measures.
"I don't actually think that's important. What I welcome is the constructive debate and I will make it clear every single day that we do need to improve, increase female representation in our party," she said.
The opposition leader described herself as "agnostic" about specific methods for increasing female representation but emphasized her commitment to the goal.
"I am an absolute zealot that we have higher female representation and that we reflect Australia's women in our party and in our policies," Ley said.
She noted that Liberal Party state divisions hold final responsibility for preselection processes and welcomed any ideas they might propose to address gender imbalances.
Anti-Semitism Concerns
Ley also addressed rising anti-Semitism following a briefing with the Hebrew congregation at East Melbourne Synagogue earlier this week, describing the meeting as "quite an emotional" experience.
"It was very confronting to hear how Jewish Australians feel right now, the fear with which they face every day," she said, noting parents must send children to childcare centers "behind locked gates with armed guards."
The opposition leader called the "rising tide of anti-Semitism" a legitimate source of fear and anxiety for Jewish communities, promising the coalition would "call out every single day" such incidents.
Ley criticized the Prime Minister's response to anti-Semitism concerns, demanding "stronger accountability" from Albanese's government.
"These are not individual incidences that need to be treated separately. This is something that is a major national security concern, as has been spoken about by Mike Burgess," she said, referencing the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general.
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15-Point Anti-Semitism Plan
Ley endorsed a 15-point plan to combat anti-Semitism that was presented before the last election, calling it "very good" and "very important" for educating Australians about the issue.
The plan reportedly addresses social media regulation, university governance and national security measures related to anti-Semitism.
"I really encourage the Prime Minister, and I really hope that if the Prime Minister is standing up on the other side of this building, that he adopts the 15 points in that plan," Ley said.
She said the plan would help address "the fears and the concerns of Jewish Australians today, because they're very real, and we cannot stand by and let this rising tide of anti-Semitism sweep across this country."
Ley expressed hope that Albanese would engage directly with Jewish communities, noting he had not visited the Melbourne synagogue when she was there.
"I hope he puts that in his diary to visit soon. I hope he sits down and has those conversations that he needs to have with Jewish Australians who have experienced something that is truly horrific," she said.
The opposition leader distinguished between legitimate protest and hate, saying Jewish Australians had experienced "not a protest, but is pure hate."
"And hate cannot be excused or explained away or somehow set aside," she said.
Bradfield Election Situation
Ley briefly addressed questions about Giselle Capiterian's potential challenge to the federal election result in Bradfield, praising the candidate while deferring decisions to the New South Wales Liberal Party division.
"Giselle Capiterian is an outstanding Australian, a remarkable woman of the Liberal Party, and ran a fine campaign in the seat of Bradfield," Ley said.
When asked whether the Liberal Party had resources to fund a High Court challenge and potential by-election, Ley said such matters were "for the New South Wales division of the Liberal Party" and predicted announcements would come soon.
The comments came as Capiterian faces a deadline to decide whether to challenge the election result through the courts.
Political Context
Ley's appearance represented a coordinated opposition response to multiple policy areas, combining immediate childcare concerns with longer-term party positioning on women's representation and national security issues.
Her offer of bipartisan cooperation on childcare legislation signals potential for cross-party agreement on an issue affecting working families, while her criticism of the government's anti-Semitism response maintains traditional opposition pressure on security matters.
The childcare focus aligns with Ley's broader emphasis on women's policies and work-life balance issues, positioning the coalition as responsive to family concerns ahead of the next federal election.
Ley's personal anecdotes about struggling with caring responsibilities and work-life balance appeared designed to humanize her leadership and connect with voters facing similar challenges.
The July 22 parliamentary sitting date she referenced marks the first opportunity for new legislation when Parliament resumes, making her timeline for childcare reforms immediately relevant to the government's legislative agenda.
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