Mary Doyle (Aston, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education. What action has the Albanese Labor government taken to start building a universal early education system that is simple, affordable and accessible for every family? What could put this at risk and leave families worse off?

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

Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is an outright lie!

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

The minister will pause. Member for Moncrieff, that comment was unparliamentary. I will ask you to withdraw that.

Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

I thank the member. I call the minister.

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

Today, we saw the opposition again vote against a cost-of-living measure. What they voted against today is 70,000 families saving $1,370. That's what they voted against. They voted against more children, particularly children from disadvantaged families, getting access to those transformative benefits of early childhood education and care. They voted against more women being able to get back to work. They voted against low-income families accessing affordable early learning. They voted against aspiration and they voted against the future because they have no plan, no vision and no policy for early childhood education and care. Instead, they want to take us back to the days of high early childhood education and care fees and back to the days of low wages for early childhood education workers. They have no plan for the future, only a plan for bosses to get longer lunches and a plan for $350 billion worth of cuts. Australians know. Today, Australians saw just what those opposite stand for.