Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is beefing up wages for early childhood educators by funding a big, fat 15 per cent pay rise. I know the opposition seem to be a little sensitive about that description, so I'll choose my words carefully here! We've all felt the heavy weight of the impact that early education workers have on our families. They are critical to our kids' development. Today we're making sure that their super-sized value is paid fairly. We're delivering a whole buffet of reforms to the early childhood education sector, cutting the fat off fees, widening service availability and expanding enrolment. Since we came to government, the early childhood education workforce has piled on 30,000 more workers. We'll continue to retain and attract workers to the sector by ensuring that they are paid properly.

Labor know that keeping heavy downward pressure on costs is crucial for families, so we're capping fee increases to child care to lighten the load. This is a humongous win for workers and parents and will help ease the cost of living for families. Labor's priorities have substance; they're calorie dense. Wages are up, and costs are down—with fries on the side. It doesn't get much better than that. Those opposite want people to work longer for less—a bald prospect. But I know Australians would flip the bird at that idea. Instead, thanks to the Albanese Labor government, Australians are earning— (Time expired)