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

My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education. How does the Albanese Labor government's commitment to a 15 per cent wage increase support Australia's early childhood education and care workforce?

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

I thank the member for Hawke for his question and for his continued advocacy for early childhood education and for early childhood educators in his electorate.

Significant. Momentous. Historic. Monumental moment. A lifejacket. Proof that early learning matters. Life-changing. These are just some of the words that early childhood education, and early childhood education advocates, have used to describe the Albanese Labor government's 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood educators. For too long, early childhood educators have been fighting for respect, for fairness and for a world-class early childhood education and care system.

When I was first elected in 2016, I, along with many of my colleagues here, signed a pledge to properly value the professionalism and the highly skilled work that early childhood educators and teachers do. Today this government announced legislation to lock in this commitment; to recognise and pay a workforce that has been taken for granted and neglected for far too long. This means that 200,000 early childhood workers across Australia will have at least $100 more a week in their pay packets by the end of this year. By the end of next year, that's going to be $150 more in their pay packet. It means they'll have a liveable wage—a liveable wage.

Jessica, a passionate early childhood educator said: 'This pay rise means early childhood educators won't struggle to get by. We'll comfortably know that we can pay the bills and put food on the table. It means proper recognition.' Leanne, a 19-year veteran of the sector said: 'To be recognised as professionals and to have a wage that reflects that is a huge step forward not only for educators but for children and their families. It means that, along with this government's tax cuts, early childhood education workers will be able to earn more and to keep more of what they earn. It means we can build a strong and stable early learning workforce and achieve that vision for a universal early childhood education and care system that is affordable, that is accessible and that is inclusive for every child in Australia.'

This is what the children of Australia deserve. It's what the families of Australia deserve, and it's what the Albanese Labor government is delivering.