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

My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education. What does the government's commitment to a 15 per cent wage increase mean to the 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 Holt for her question and for her tireless advocacy for children and families in the electorate of Holt. The member for Holt understands that early childhood workers provide an essential service and that a sustainable and secure early childhood education and care workforce is a foundation. It's a foundation for a universal early childhood education system that's affordable, that's accessible and that's inclusive. Early childhood educators and teachers do highly skilled work and professional work. But, for too long, they haven't been valued. They just have not had the remuneration that reflects that professionalism. Because of this, for far too long, we've been losing workers from the sector. I'm pleased to say that there are now around 30,000 more early childhood education workers than when we first came into office in 2022, and that is in no small measure due to the efforts of this government, not just to grow the workforce but, importantly, also to properly value this highly feminised workforce. A critical part of this is our historic 15 per cent wage increase, an investment by the Albanese Labor government. Two hundred thousand early childhood workers right across Australia could have another $100 at least more in their pay packets by Christmas this year. By next year, that could be more than $150 in their pay packets. That's how you grow an essential workforce. That's how you ensure that children, families and communities have access to early childhood education.

It really just seems like a no-brainer. Parents know this; early childhood educators know this; people in the sector know this—that, to truly value the workforce, to keep the workforce, you need to pay them more. But not everyone in this place gets this. Not everyone in this place understands this. The shadow minister for early childhood education said, and I quote—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order, the member for Gorton, the Minister for Housing and the Treasurer! No—people are entitled to raise points of order. We don't need commentary or sound effects when someone rises to their feet. That is not appropriate behaviour, and it's not going to continue. The manager, 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 was no reference in the question to alternative policies, opposition or any of that. The minister is now straying into opposition policies and statements. She's not being relevant, and she should be directed to be relevant. If she can't be, she should be asked to sit down.

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

The question was: what does the commitment to the 15 per cent increase mean to the early childhood and care workforce? That's a very specific topic question. She wasn't asked about alternative approaches, so she can't talk about perhaps policy. She has got some commentary to make about the government's decision. That's different. But she simply can't use the remainder of her time to talk about opposition policy. If she does, I will sit her down. She has the call.

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

I am talking about the importance of this pay rise for the sector, for retaining the sector, and the fact that parents and early childhood educators support this but that support is not universal in this place. There are people in this place who have said that they think that it is a waste and that it is something that the budget can't afford. That is a risk. That is a risk to those early childhood educators who are relying on that 15 per cent wage rise to stay in the sector and to stay doing the job that they love. Make no mistake; the essential services provided by early childhood educators would be at risk if we did not make— (Time expired)