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Prime Minister John Howard says he strongly believes stay-at-home parents provide the best start in life for a child.
But he also says it's important to provide childcare choices.
"I am a very strong believer in the proposition that the care provided full-time by a parent is the most precious child care of all and I'm a very strong believer of that," Mr Howard told Macquarie Regional Radio.
"But I'm also a believer in choice and that parents have the right to decide what is best for them and best for their children and we've tried to help both."
The prime minister was responding to a talkback radio caller who was critical of the baby bonus paid to new parents and to the increase in childcare benefits, saying they encouraged people to dump their children in daycare.
Mr Howard defended the baby bonus payment of $4,000 to new parents and said along with help for childcare fees, the government gives financial support to stay-at-home parents through Family Tax Benefit B.
"Every time we have increased benefits for child care, we have also increased the benefit for the stay-at-home mothers," Mr Howard said.
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- reprinted from the Sydney Morning Herald