Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Walsh. Minister, on 28 July, in response to a question from me, you said:

We are implementing the findings of that report—

that report being the Productivity Commission report on child care. How many of those recommendations have been implemented, and when will that work be completed?

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

The Albanese Labor government believes in quality, universal early childhood education. We commissioned the Productivity Commission to do a report. We are implementing the recommendations of that report, starting with our historic decision to award a 15 per cent pay rise to our nation's valuable early childhood educators.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Colbeck, first supplementary?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recommendation 5.3 of the Productivity Commission's report recommended supporting multisite services. The Abracadabra family day care centre in Latrobe caters for 33 children over 25 families. The Addisons childcare centre in Spreyton caters for 50 children over 37 families, and the nonimplementation of recommendation 5.3 means those centres will have to close. (Time expired)

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

The matter that you've raised, which you've raised before, pertains to a decision of the Tasmanian regulator.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Colbeck, second supplementary?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not correct. It's a federal regulation that covers that matter. The future of those two childcare centres lies at the tip of your pen, and your implementation of recommendation 5.3 would save those two centres from closing. When are you going to complete that work?

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

Our government is aware that there are regions in the country that are underserved and unserved with quality early childhood education. That is why we are investing a billion dollars in our Building Early Education Fund to increase supply of quality early childhood education to those regions, which is a billion dollars more than you ever put into early education.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to ask a question on behalf of the beautiful state of Tasmania regarding the nutrition workforce.

Leave not granted.