Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education. How is the Albanese Labor government working to make early learning more affordable and to ensure early childhood educators earn more and keep more of what they earn?

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

I thank the wonderful member for Moreton for his question and for his interest in a quality early childhood education and care system for all Australian children. This government's No. 1 priority is cost-of-living relief for every Australian, and that's why we introduced our Cheaper Child Care reforms in our very first year—reforms, I might remind the House, that those opposite said were unnecessary but reforms that have reduced out-of-pocket expenses by, on average, 11 per cent on average for centre based care and that provide cost-of-living relief for more than one million Australian families.

I'm proud of what the Albanese Labor government has achieved in our two years of office. But we know that there is more to do to reach our vision of an affordable, accessible and inclusive early childhood education and care system. The Productivity Commission and the ACCC have told us that we can't reach that vision without a sustainable and stable workforce. And we know that the key to this is wages, because, as early childhood workers tell me all the time, 'We love what we do, but love doesn't pay the bills.' That's why we passed legislation to get wages moving and close the gender pay gap. That's why we've advocated for a wage increase in three annual wage review decisions since we came to government. From next month, that means a further 3.7 per cent pay rise for early childhood workers. We've also provisioned funding in this year's budget for a wage increase for early childhood workers.

That's not all, because our tax cuts will bring further cost-of-living relief. That means, on average, $829 for the average early childhood educator and $1,404 for the average early childhood teacher. That will go back into the pockets of the people who do some of the most important work in our society.

We know that the coalition deliberately kept wages low, contributing to a workforce crisis in early childhood education and care.

Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, he doesn't like that!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Lingiari. The minister will pause. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance: there's no scope in the language of the question to be delving into the record of the coalition. The minister has veered off script and she should be directed back to legitimate territory for her answer.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I agree with the manager. There was nothing in the question about alternative policies or approaches or even history. The minister will have to return to the question and cease those remarks.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. On the topic of wage increases for early childhood education and care workers, which this side of the House supports while those opposite to continue to say no to everything, we on this side are getting on with the job of ensuring that early childhood education and care workers earn more and keep more of what they earn.