Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Hansard source

This week is the first meeting of this parliament during which paid parental leave has gone up to 24 weeks. We understand that families want to spend more time with their children when they're babies. This was a great Labor reform that started under the Rudd-Gillard government, when paid parental leave was introduced for the first time. It was capped at 18 weeks. It sat there, at 18 weeks, for about 10 years under those opposite. When we returned to government, we brought paid parental leave up to 24 weeks, starting in July, and it will go up to 26 weeks next year.

We understand that families—mums and dads—want to spend more time at home with their new babies. We also understand, Senator Payman, that the reality of modern families is that often both parents need to work. They need to go back to work to support themselves and their families, and quality, affordable early education is absolutely critical for that. It's critical for mums who want to go back to work. It's critical for families, to help them pay their bills. It's critical for mums and dads to participate in the labour market.

Of course, there are also huge benefits for children in accessing quality early childhood education, Senator Payman. We know that it's a game changer for young children to participate in quality early learning that sets them up for school and for life.