Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Walsh. Highly skilled educators are the backbone of our early learning system, and we know that their hard work delivers benefits for children that last well into their school years and beyond. But for too long these educators have been underpaid, undervalued and overlooked. Can the minister outline what the Albanese Labor government is doing to overcome this and ensure we retain hardworking, highly trained and experienced educators?

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

I thank Senator Grogan for her question. I know that everyone on this side of the chamber, including Senator Grogan, values our nation's hardworking early childhood educators. Next Monday is a historic day for our nation's dedicated professional early educators because this is when the second part of our 15 per cent pay rise rolls out. It means an extra $160 a week in their pay packets. When combined with our support for minimum wage rises, that's an extra $200 a week all up. This is a game changer for this workforce.

I can say that I am proud to have represented early educators through their union before I entered parliament. I'm proud to have stood with them as they advocated for the respect and recognition that they deserved under 10 long years of Liberal governments who never listened and never acted. I am proud to be part of an Albanese Labor government that has listened, that has acted and that is delivering this much-deserved 15 per cent pay rise.

This is a predominantly female workforce who for too long were asked to accept low wages for the love of caring for children. For too long, our dedicated early educators were underpaid and were undervalued by those opposite, and we are changing that because we know that love doesn't pay the bills. We know that traditionally female dominated work, like education and care, is highly skilled work. We know it deserves to be valued—valued in the community, valued by government and valued through the pay packets of our educators. (Time expired)

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

Senator Grogan, first supplementary?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, that's great to hear about that five per cent pay rise next week. I think this side of the chamber are all very excited about that. You've also spoken about the importance of the pay rise for early educators who are already feeling that relief in terms of the cost of living. Can you please outline for us how the pay rise is stabilising the sector, and what impact that's having on children and on their families?

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

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

Senator Grogan, second supplementary?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. That's excellent news. We know that a quality, respected workforce is the foundation of a quality early education system, and the Albanese Labor government is delivering for these workers, as you've pointed out, with a well-deserved 15 per cent pay rise. Could you take us through why the government has taken this approach to the early childhood workforce?

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

Thank you, Senator. We are delivering that pay rise, and we have had to take this approach because, unfortunately, not everyone has always backed this vital workforce. When we announced our historic 15 per cent pay rise, those opposite dismissed it as 'a sugar hit'. Senator Canavan even called it a handout. On this side of the chamber we know that our early childhood educators earnt this pay rise. Families know that educators earnt this pay rise. But those opposite don't believe that early childhood educators deserve a cent more. Those opposite left educators stranded, and they left services stranded. That is their legacy, on that side of the chamber. Educators tell me that they finally feel valued.

You can jeer all you like, Senator Canavan and your colleagues—

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

Minister, direct your comments through the chair.

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

but educators know who backs them. (Time expired)