Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I make the point that Senator Walsh, as a leader in her union for so many years, is one of a number of leaders for whom the early childhood education and care workers pay and conditions has been such a priority. She and others on this side of the chamber should feel very proud of the work they have done both outside and inside the parliament to work with workers seeking these pay increases and to deliver them through government.

This is a 15 per cent increase which brings together a set of priorities that are important to the Albanese Labor government: real help with the cost of living; fair wages for workers; investing in the future; and economic equity for women. It will be phased in over two years, and from December this year there will be a 10 per cent increase. This means a typical educator will receive a pay rise of $103 per week. (Time expired)