Coalition to offer $1.7bn childcare budget boost to encourage return of female workforce

Subsidy will increase to up to 95% for families with two or more children aged five and under

A $1.7bn childcare boost will be included in next week's budget, with the government saying it wants to remove disincentives for women returning to work.

After treasurer Josh Frydenberg flagged the Coalition would not use this year's budget to pivot towards austerity", the government has revealed the details of a childcare package that particularly targets low and middle income families with more than one child.