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

Thank you, Senator Grogan. When the Albanese Labor government first came to office, we inherited a sector which educators were leaving in droves. That was because of a decade of coalition neglect, a decade of talking down this workforce and a decade of low wages by deliberate design. We inherited high vacancy rates, high burnout rates and widespread casualisation. But, since educators received the first 10 per cent of their pay rise in December last year, we have seen this turn around. The number of educators is up. Vacancy rates are down. Educators are able to stay in the jobs that they love. And, when educators can stay in their jobs, it means more stability for children, more stability for families and more stability for the sector that they rely on. (Time expired)