Anne Aly (Cowan, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the wonderful member not just for her question but for her passion and her dedication to early childhood education and care for Australian children in her electorate and across Australia. It was very clear when we came into office that we inherited an early childhood education sector that was in desperate need of reform. We've made significant progress on reforming the sector across those three pillars—affordability, accessibility and a sustainable workforce—towards a vision of a universal early childhood education and care sector that is simple, affordable and accessible.

Today, because of the actions of this government, there are 41,900 more educators in the sector. There are 1,083 more services, with 30 per cent of them outside major cities. There are 97,000 more children in early childhood education and care. Because of our cheaper childcare reforms, one million families are better off, to the tune of around $2,700. We're building on that by capping our fee increases as well. We have more educators in the sector, and vacancies are down by 22 per cent. There are more educators getting training and professional development to get into and stay in the sector that they love.

Today, this House passed our three-day guarantee. I'm asked about risks. It's well known that the Liberals and the Nationals, those opposite, have opposed every cost-of-living measure we have put before this House—every single one of them. Today, they again—

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