Opposition Senator Janelle John-Bates has raised significant concerns regarding the government’s approach to child development and public servant compensation. During the Senate budget debate on October 27, John-Bates advocated for earlier screening of infants for learning impediments, arguing that the government’s proposed age of four to five is too late. She emphasized that early detection and intervention are crucial for addressing developmental delays in motor skills, speech, language, social and emotional skills, and cognition. John-Bates pointed out that other countries typically screen children between zero and three years old, leveraging the brain’s neuroplasticity during this critical period. She highlighted the importance of therapies such as speech, physical, occupational, and behavioral interventions to foster proper brain development. Additionally, John-Bates criticized the high cost of educational assessments and therapies, which can be prohibitive for many families. She also addressed the plight of single mothers facing the government’s 3.5% landlord surcharge, noting the difficulty of finding landlords willing to accommodate children. On the issue of public servant back-pay, John-Bates expressed skepticism about the government’s promise to deliver a 10% increase by Christmas, citing the absence of allocated funds in the budget. She graded the budget an ‘F,’ labeling it as ‘fluff, false, and fraudulent.’