Senator Leyonhjelm says he supports low-income workers receiving assistance for childcare. Photo: Louie Douvis
Australians without children should not be forced to subsidise the rising costs of childcare, Senator David Leyonhjelm says.
The Liberal Democratic senator told Neil Mitchell said it was all about winning votes.
The history of subsidising childcare is we will subsidise your kids going into childcare therefore vote for us
Senator Leyonhjelm
"I am arguing (that) we scrutinise every payment we make in support of children," he said.
"It's quite an expensive subsidy, and we've lost sight of the reason for it.
"If we are going to subsidise childcare we have to be very, very targeted about it."
Senator Leyonhjelm has called for a review of the welfare system just weeks before the Federal Government gets set to announce a new families package.
He said there should be no subsidy for women who weren't working.
"That's just giving away other people's money merely because they've had children - I don't think that withstands scrutiny.
"Governments like to hand out other people's money in order to win votes, it's a bit of a disease in Canberra.
"The history of subsidising childcare is we will subsidise your kids going into childcare therefore vote for us," he said.
