Early Childhood Education

Opened the debate

Aly stated that the government is creating an inclusive early childhood education and care framework that is affordable, and simple. Aly highlighted that cheaper child care reforms had reduced out-of-pocket costs for over one million families by more than 17 per cent, saving the average family approximately $4,400. Aly noted that a 15 per cent wage increase for workers and fee-free TAFE programs had contributed to 42,000 more educators and 97,000 more children in care. Aly announced that the government would use Commonwealth funding to prevent providers who persistently fail quality standards or breach national laws from opening new services or accessing subsidies. Aly also stated that paying staff correctly and on time would become a condition for accessing childcare subsidy funding, with authorised officers gaining powers to conduct spot checks.

Government response

Opposition response

Bell argued that the government's policies had failed to adequately address affordability, access, and workforce challenges, particularly in regional areas where childcare deserts exist. Bell stated that childcare costs had risen by over 22 per cent and out-of-pocket fees by nearly 13 per cent since the government took office, contradicting claims of cheaper care. Bell welcomed the minister's focus on cracking down on bad providers but urged caution to ensure regulatory changes did not punish compliant educators or add unnecessary bureaucracy. Bell called for more detail on the implementation of safety measures and criticised the government for delaying responses to previous sector reviews.