Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Walsh. The Albanese Labor government is focused on delivering for Australian families, including the many families who rely on quality early learning. Can the minister please update the Senate on how the government is delivering on its commitments in early education and care, and how is this providing practical support to Australian parents and helping our kids get a great start to life?

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

This has been a pretty tough week for Australia and the world. There's a lot of tough news out there, so I'm pleased to stand up and update the Senate on some good news for Australian families and Australian children.

Yes, the Albanese Labor government is delivering practical solutions that families need to thrive. We know quality early learning gives children a great start in life and helps parents, especially mums, return to work when they're ready. We're backing Australian families. We're backing them with more access to quality early learning with our billion-dollar Building Early Education Fund, delivering more centres in the outer suburbs and regions where families need them most. We've announced four agreements with the states and territories to deliver almost 2,000 new early learning places for families, and 80 per cent of those places will be co-located with schools. That's the practical support parents need, helping them to avoid the double drop-off and replace it with a one-stop drop.

I saw the benefits of our fund when I visited the remote town of Derby, in the Kimberley, a fortnight ago. We are building a new early learning centre with the Western Australian government and Minderoo to be run by the local Ngunga women's group. One mum, Casey, told me her children, Lawrence and Freya, have thrived at the local play group. They like the reading time and learning through play. With another baby on the way, Casey is excited about being able to send her next child to a quality local early learning centre. This is a great example of the difference that access to quality early learning can make for parents, children and a community, and we are proud to be delivering it.

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

Senator Mulholland, first supplementary?

Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that access to subsidised early learning gives children a great start in life, and it helps parents return to work when it works for them. Minister, what other measures has the Albanese Labor government introduced to help families access quality early education?

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

Every child deserves access to quality early learning no matter their postcode or what their parents do. That's why Labor's three-day guarantee started this year on 5 January. Just like every child has the right to go to school, every child now has the right to a three-day childcare subsidy and every parent has the subsidy support they need to get back to work when they're ready.

In their 10 long wasted years in government, the coalition had a different approach. They reduced flexibility for mums with their punishing work activity test. They cut off childcare subsidies for mums who wanted to work fewer than three days a week. They cut off childcare subsidies for mums who wanted to return to work just one or two days a week, as so many mums do. They locked families out, and we are backing families in.

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

Senator Mulholland, second supplementary?

Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As a mum, it is great to hear how the Albanese Labor government is opening up access to quality early education and care for Australian families and how this access is supporting parents and families. Are there any barriers that stand in the way of delivering this practical support to Australian women and their families, not just the ones here in the chamber?

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

Yes, Senator Mulholland, and it is those opposite. In their 10 wasted years in government, the only thing they ever did was cut access to early learning. Since we came to government, they've had four coalition party leaders and zero policies on early education. We know that they have a problem with women, and they know that they have a problem with women too. So it makes perfect sense that they're looking to the future with Senator Matt 'Hills hoist' Canavan to lead them.

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

Minister Walsh, withdraw. You need to withdraw.

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

I withdraw. What a record Senator Canavan has on supporting women! He voted against the three-day guarantee. He voted against Paid Parental Leave, which we are extending to 26 weeks. He voted against practical support for mums and their children. On this side, we are building the practical support Australian families deserve. (Time expired)