On health and child care, Labor might have found Pauline Hanson's kryptonite

Pauline Hanson's recent marathon speech at the National Press Club has provided a trove of material for political campaigners, particularly the Labor party, who see her comments on child care and health as a vulnerability. Hanson, a veteran politician, stated views that many, even some sympathetic voters, might disagree with.

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I didn't have a university degree to look after my children. Why do we now expect these childcare centres to have… people with some sort of degree to look after a child? It's just got out of proportion. It's ridiculous.

During her address, Hanson questioned the need for childcare workers to have degrees, stating, "It's just got out of proportion. It's ridiculous." She also questioned why businesses should pay parental leave wages if women are not working. On health and education, she suggested eliminating "stupid education and health department duplications" shared with states to cut spending.

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If women take time off and they are not paid their wages because they're not working, fair enough. Why should businesses pay them if they're not at work?

Labor frontbencher Murray Watt seized on these remarks, telling the Today Show that Hanson "wants to cut healthcare funding, which means people would have to pay more to go and see a doctor." He added, "She's coming after people who use child care." This strategy mirrors Labor's approach to highlighting conservative views on workplace relations, but now extends to core policy areas like health and child care, which were central to Anthony Albanese's 2022 election campaign and remain significant government spending categories.

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I'd get rid of… those stupid education and health department duplications, that are duplicated with states. We can cut a lot of spending.