Ms PAYNE (Canberra) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education. How is the Albanese Labor government recognising the professional work of early childhood educators and helping them with the cost of living? What approaches to early childhood education has the government rejected?
Dr ALY (Cowan—Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth) (14:23): I thank the amazing member for Canberra for her question and for her ongoing advocacy and support for early childhood education and care workers in Canberra. Last week, the Albanese government made a historic announcement of a 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood education and care workers—workers who carry out the vital and important role of caring for and educating our youngest Australians. This is on top of supporting not one, not two, but three increases to the award wage of early childhood educators, as well as our tax cuts.
I have spoken to educators right across the country who have told me how much they love their job. Their dedication to children's wellbeing and children's development is on show at every single centre that I have visited across Australia. But they also tell me that love doesn't pay the bills. This wage increase will make a real and tangible difference for over 200,000 workers in Australia. Sia, an educator from Victoria, said this: 'Instead of searching for a second job, this pay increase will help me now pay rent and put food on my table.'
This 15 per cent wage increase means that an average ECEC educator will receive a pay rise of over $100 per week, increasing to over $150 a week from December 2025. An early childhood teacher gets an additional $166 a week, increasing to $249 a week from December 2025. This is a great outcome for a highly feminised workforce.
Unsurprisingly, yet disappointingly, the opposition doesn't understand how important this wage increase is for the sector. The opposition leader dismissed the wage increase as 'a few dollars a week' and refused to support it. The opposition leader would do well to go out and speak to ECEC workers—people like Karen, an educator in the opposition leader's home state of Queensland, who said that this will change people's lives. It means that early childhood educators who have been relying on Foodbank to feed their families won't have to do that anymore.
Every Australian, whether a parent, a grandparent, an aunt or an uncle—whether you know an early childhood educator or you are one—knows how important this work is. It's not just about wiping bums and noses. But it's only a Labor government that will deliver a fair and decent wage increase for early childhood workers.
