"The swing against the Government was 1.5% lower in seats with an above the median proportion of electors claiming Child Care Rebate than those with a below median proportion of families claiming the rebate".

Child care assistance disproportionately benefits the upper middle class. All that happened was that safe coalition seats swung less against the government than happened for less safe seats, which is what you would expect. It does not necessarily indicate that child care policy in itself was the reason.

"Labor released its policy during the election campaign promising to match the Government’s investment but with relief delivered earlier."
So Labor's policy would be preferable but the Libs won those seats?

Am I missing your point? Or is this one of those issues (like the economy) where the government has a strong reputation that's not backed by reality?

@Aidan.

"Am I missing your point? Or is this one of those issues (like the economy) where the government has a strong reputation that's not backed by reality?"

Having re-read the article, I find myself asking the same questions.