I am strongly opposed to these changes to the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill.

I understand the Government’s concern about wise use of tax payers’ money and helping people to get off the benefit, but I don’t think this is the way to do it. I do not believe that reducing the benefit should be connected with compulsory ECE and health care.

I am a 20 year old single male. I would like to be getting married soon and having children. In the event sometime in the future, I am concerned, that if my health deteriorates or my wife becomes a widow then I would like to think that she would be able to carry on training and caring for our children without having to be concerned with having to send our 3-5 year olds to an ECE or have Government health care forced on her.

I am adopted and the oldest of 4 adopted siblings the youngest being 7. I know even more than most the need for a close, caring, secure relationship with the main care giver in the home for young children. I have watched each new sibling come into my home and seen the need for building strong attachments in the early years. This would not be possible if we all had to be sent to an ECE at 3.

There is also a lot of research out there that says that children do better in their home than in an institution. There may be a case for the odd few who do better in an ECE because of the nonexistence of a good home life. But for the majority of young children the home is best. My Dad used to quote Harold McCurdy who said that there was 3 factors in raising a genius:

1. Warm responsibe parents

2. Isolation from peers

3. Freedom for children to explore their own interests