Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move Greens amendments (1) to (10) on sheet 1739:

(1) Schedule 5, item 3, page 23 (line 19), omit "educator".

(2) Schedule 5, item 4, page 23 (line 24), omit "educator".

(3) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 2), omit "educator", substitute "individual".

(4) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 7), omit "educator".

(5) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (lines 12 to 14), omit ", as an educator (within the meaning of the Education and Care Services National Law)".

(6) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 18), omit "educator".

(7) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 23), omit "educator".

(8) Schedule 6, item 2, page 27 (line 23), omit "educator".

(9) Schedule 6, item 5, page 28 (line 9), omit "educator".

(10) Schedule 6, item 5, page 28 (line 14), omit "educator".

The bill as it's drafted allows providers to give educators employed in their centres a discount on their services. This discount is intended to assist in attracting and retaining educators. It does provide a little bit of that benefit, but it is completely inadequate for that purpose. We support this measure because it does provide support to educators, but, importantly, it is a bit unfair because it excludes many of the other staff at centres. We see no reason why other staff who are not educators but still work at early childhood education and care centres and do important work should not be included in this. These staff are necessary for the functioning of early childhood education and care centres and should not miss out on this discount.

For example, as noted by Goodstart Early Learning during the inquiry, centre cooks are also captured under the children's services award and excluding them creates inequity in a centre. Centre cooks play a crucial role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of children. They have the highest rates of attrition in centre staff. The government should, as a matter of fairness, provide them and other centre staff with access to discounted early childhood education and care services.

These amendments make the bill much more fair and more generous, by extending the permissible educator discount to all staff employed in early childhood education and care. I know that Senator David Pocock has amendments which extend this discount to cooks but not to other staff. I believe we should include all the staff who work at a centre and who are part and parcel of the functioning of our children's education. I urge senators to support these amendments.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Faruqi for her contribution. The government won't be supporting these amendments, as we do think they require further consideration and consultation. Expanding the measure would place an unreasonable burden on smaller providers, who cannot afford to offer the discount. That could cause issues with fair competition as well. So we will not be supporting these amendments moved by Senator Faruqi.

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've similar reasoning. In discussions with childcare providers, cooks were put forward. I think there needs to be more modelling done—and the review of this bill should include that—looking at the cost of widening that scope and seeing what the effect will be on smaller centres. I also will not be supporting these amendments.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the chair is that the Greens amendments (1) to (10) on sheet 1739, as moved by Senator Faruqi, be agreed to.

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move the amendments circulated in my name, (1) to (11), on sheet 1741:

(1) Title, page 1 (line 2), after "assistance", insert "to provide more affordableearly childhood education and care".

(2) Schedule 5, item 3, page 23 (line 19), omit "educator", substitute "staff".

(3) Schedule 5, item 4, page 23 (line 24), omit "educator", substitute "staff".

(4) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 2), after "educator", insert "or cook".

(5) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 7), omit "educator", substitute "staff".

(6) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 14), after "Law)", insert "or a cook".

(7) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 18), omit "educator", substitute "staff".

(8) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 23), omit "educator", substitute "staff".

(9) Schedule 6, item 2, page 27 (line 23), omit "educator", substitute "staff".

(10) Schedule 6, item 5, page 28 (line 9), omit "educator", substitute "staff".

(11) Schedule 6, item 5, page 28 (line 14), omit "educator", substitute "staff".

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just indicating the government will be supporting these amendments as moved by Senator Pocock.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Greens will also be supporting Senator David Pocock's amendments, because they go a little way to what the Greens amendments were, but I do want to point out the inconsistency of Labor's position—inconsistent, contradictory and illogical—to back an amendment to change the title of the bill which was almost exactly the same as the Greens amendment. Senator Pocock's amendment changes the long title of the bill.

Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He was more persuasive.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Obviously more persuasive. Changing the short title of the bill, as was the Greens amendment, would actually have been a more significant change, a more meaningful way to change the discourse around respect for early educators. But Labor has taken the easy way out by agreeing to change the long title but maintaining the disrespectful language of cheaper child care in the bill. Obviously and clearly politics has been at play.

Question agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Bill reported with amendments and an amendment to the title; report adopted.