Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister Watt. Educators and unions have fought long and hard for a 25 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators, and last week the government announced an overdue 15 per cent wage increase. These educators, who are overwhelmingly women, have been calling for a 25 per cent wage increase, to value the essential and underrecognised work of educating and caring for our kids in those critical early years. For too long these childcare workers have been leaving the industry in droves because they aren't being paid enough, and they can't afford to stay. Our childcare system is in a crisis. Australia needs a workforce strategy that continues to build capacity, and that requires paying our educators what they deserve. Minister, don't you think that early childhood educators deserve a 25 per cent pay increase?