Leyonhjelm backs cuts, not childcare plan

A key crossbench senator won't back the government's multi-billion dollar childcare package, but is happy to vote for the family tax benefit cuts wanted to pay for it.

Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm's position is the reverse of Labor and the Australian Greens, which support the spending, but not the saving measure.

"Additional spending in the form of child care I don't think is justified," Senator Leyonhjelm told ABC radio on Thursday, claiming the reason care is so expensive is heavy regulation in the sector.