Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Since we came into government, the number of early childhood education and care workers has grown by more than 30,000 people. This growth reflects Labor's drive to improve the sector. From Hampton Park to Lynbrook and from Narre Warren South to Cranbourne and Clyde, early childhood educators are some of the most important workers in our community.

I have visited many of the childcare centres in my electorate, including Aspire Early Learning in Cranbourne West, Clyde North and Bella Estate; Merinda Park Kindergarten; Pebble Patch in Cranbourne West; Goodstart in Hampton Park; Kids House Early Learning in Clyde North; Cranbourne Drive early learning; and YMCA Early Learning in Cranbourne North. At each of these centres I met dedicated professionals who take on the enormous responsibility of caring for and educating our children while we work and manage our lives. To them I say: I have met you, I have heard you and I know that your work is irreplaceable. I want to say a heartfelt thank you as you shape the next generation and ensure that our children have the best possible start in life. Holt is one of the youngest electorates in the country, with one in four residents being under the age of 14. Early childhood educators play a crucial role in our community. To those educators I say: we place a huge amount of trust in you, relying on you to care for our children and support their development and wellbeing.

But we know that simply increasing the workforce isn't enough. We must also ensure that these educators are properly supported and fairly paid. Despite the importance of their work, many early childhood educators face low wages and heavy workloads. Decent wages are crucial to retaining staff and attracting the most talented and passionate people to the sector.

This is why I'm proud to stand here today, in the debate on the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) Bill 2024, to speak to the Albanese Labor government's commitment to funding a 15 per cent pay rise for 200,000 early childhood educators across the country. This commitment recognises the vital contributions these workers make to our community. This is fundamental Labor policy—a policy that comes from a party that puts Australian workers and families first and that recognises their essential contribution to society. This wage increase acknowledges that these workers—predominantly women—deserve to be paid fairly for the important role they play in supporting our families and communities. It is about respect and recognition for the hard work and dedication these educators show every single day.

This increase will also provide a much-needed boost to wages, with the average early childhood educator earning the award rate seeing an increase of at least $103 per week by December 2024 and at least $155 per week by December 2025. This is an additional $7,800 a year for these workers. This wage rise is tied to a commitment from childcare centres to limit fee increases, ensuring that workers are paid fully without passing the cost on to families. This builds on Labor's previous efforts to make child care more affordable for families. Since we came to government, the number of early childhood workers has grown by more than 30,000, but we need more.

Last year we implemented the cheaper childcare reforms, which significantly reduced the cost of child care for 96 per cent of families. These changes mean that a family on an income of $120,000 today is paying about $2,000 less in childcare fees than they would otherwise have had to. This policy was designed to allow parents—especially women—to re-enter the workforce without the burden of high childcare costs. It has been life-changing for families in Holt, enabling them to earn more, invest in their families' future and contribute to our local economy. This is the kind of support we aim to provide to all families in our community.

The Albanese Labor government understands that, when we invest in early childhood education, we are investing in our future. Our commitment to fairer wages for early childhood educators is part of a broader commitment to ensure every Australian child has the best start in life. By improving access to quality early childhood education, we lay a strong foundation for children's development and learning. Research shows that these early years are crucial for cognitive, social and emotional growth. Children who receive high-quality education during this time are more likely to succeed academically and thrive later on in life.

Accessible early childhood education ensures that all children, regardless of their background, can benefit from nurturing environments that foster curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. Moreover, it empowers parents to pursue their careers with the confidence that their children are in safe and supportive settings. This in turn leads to stronger families and a more resilient community. Investing in early childhood education is not just an investment in individual children; it's an investment in the future of our society.

Paid parental leave was introduced by the Gillard Labor government in 2011. It is a policy that highlights the positive outcomes when women are a part of the decision-making process. This policy has provided hundreds of thousands of mothers with the financial support to take time off work and focus on what truly matters: spending those precious first weeks with their newborn child. It has lifted the financial burden that many new parents face, allowing them to bond with their child without the stress of returning to work too soon. The Albanese Labor government has made significant improvements to paid parental leave. From 1 July, every year we will increase paid parental leave until it reaches 26 weeks because we believe that, when parents have more time with their babies, it strengthens their bond and creates priceless memories that last a lifetime.

My electorate is home to a diverse community of families, and every week I have the privilege of meeting countless parents who have benefited from Labor's reforms. They share stories of how affordable child care and paid parental leave have made a real difference in their lives. These are real stories from real families—families like my brother, Hamish, and his amazing wife, Christine. Last year, they welcomed their beautiful baby boy, my nephew, Xander. Knowing that Hamish and Christine could spend more time with Xander during those first few weeks brought me great comfort as a proud aunty. These changes are crucial for families across Holt, especially as they navigate the challenges of parenthood. They provide much-needed support, allowing families to focus on what truly matters: raising their children and building a future together.

We are focused on ensuring that children get the best education at all stages of their life. From kindergarten to primary school, high school and onto university and TAFE, our education reform agenda doesn't just end at early childhood. The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement will see an additional $16 billion invested in our public schools over the next decade. Public schools are the backbone of our education system, and this funding boost will provide more resources for teachers, better support for students with diverse needs and upgraded facilities that foster learning and growth. This will mean that, for the first time, public schools outside of the ACT will be fully funded. This investment will ensure every student, regardless of where they live or their background, has access to the highest quality education.

The Albanese Labor government is dedicated to supporting families in our communities, through cheaper child care, through extended paid parental leave, through paying new mothers superannuation and through cutting taxes so that every Australian has more money to spend on their family. Only Labor is committed to ensuring that no family is left behind and that every worker is valued for the work they do. We recognise that it is our government's responsibility to create an environment where early childhood educators are recognised, respected and paid fairly for their essential work.

I would like to take a moment to thank the Minister for Education, Jason Clare, and the Minister for Youth, Dr Anne Aly, for their outstanding work on this bill. Their tireless efforts have been instrumental in ensuring that early childhood educators receive the respect, recognition and fair wages they deserve. Minister Clare's leadership in education reform and Minister Aly's unwavering commitment to supporting Australian families have brought us one step closer to a system that values both educators and the children they care for. Their vision and advocacy have made a real difference for countless families across the country, and I am proud to support their work in this vital area.

I urge everyone in this chamber to support this bill and to celebrate the work of our early childhood educators. Together we can build a better future for our children—one where every educator feels valued and every family has access to the quality of care and education they deserve. I commend this bill to the House.

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