Question Time AU

Topic

Childcare & Early Education

Childcare costs, early learning and early educators.

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Question Time Q&As
46
Debates
51

Recent Question Time Questions

Summaries in reported speech - not a transcript.

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    Senate · Thursday 17 September 2026 · Tony Sheldon ALP

    The senator asked for an update on how the legislation would generate employment, ensure equitable wages, reduce expenses for households, and enhance child protection.

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Wages and Salaries

    House of Representatives · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Alice Jordan-Baird ALP

    The member asked how the government was acting to safeguard and increase pay while supporting Australian workers. She also asked why these reforms were important and what the responses had been.

    Answered by Anthony Albanese

  • Early Childhood Education

    House of Representatives · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Anne Urquhart ALP

    The member asked what the government was doing to assist early childhood educators while maintaining affordable fees for families. She also asked about any risks to this approach.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    Senate · Monday 14 September 2026 · Ellie Whiteaker ALP

    The senator asked what the milestone of signing agreements with all states and territories meant for children and families, and how the fund would help access quality early education. She also asked how the investment wo...

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Vocational Education and Training

    Senate · Wednesday 9 September 2026 · Helen Polley ALP

    The member asked how the government is delivering change through greater access to TAFE. She requested an update on free TAFE figures and asked about programs to keep workers in industries like early childhood education.

    Answered by Murray Watt

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    Senate · Wednesday 9 September 2026 · Karen Grogan ALP

    The member enquired how the government was employing free TAFE to increase the number of people in early learning and what measures it was implementing to assist educators in remaining within the sector. She further ques...

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Indigenous Australians: Early Childhood Education and Care

    Senate · Thursday 20 August 2026 · Jana Stewart ALP

    The senator sought an update on efforts to reduce disparities in early childhood education for First Nations children and how the government is working with communities. She then inquired about particular collaborations ...

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    House of Representatives · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Rowan Holzberger ALP

    The member asked what actions the government was taking to support early childhood educators while reducing costs for parents, and what the response had been.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    Senate · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Tammy Tyrrell ALP

    The member asked how the government was backing the early learning workforce and improving access to quality care. She specifically inquired about the impact of free TAFE on training new educators and whether there were ...

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Economy

    House of Representatives · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Angus Taylor Liberal

    The member asked how Australians could get ahead when the government was increasing costs for families and small businesses.

    Answered by Anthony Albanese

  • Education

    Senate · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Steph Hodgins-May Greens

    The member asked if the government believed it was acceptable for fossil fuel corporations to teach children about climate change. She later asked if a gas export tax could fund schools better and if the government would...

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    House of Representatives · Tuesday 30 June 2026 · Shayne Neumann ALP

    The member asked for details on government actions to improve wages for early childhood educators and enhance safety and affordability in the sector.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    Senate · Monday 29 June 2026 · Lisa Darmanin ALP

    The senator asked about the impact of the 15 per cent pay rise on educators and families. She followed up by asking why a stable workforce is important for quality early learning and how the government's approach support...

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    House of Representatives · Tuesday 23 June 2026 · Sam Lim ALP

    The member asked what the government was doing to improve the affordability and accessibility of quality early education and care, and what the response had been.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Wages and Salaries

    Senate · Monday 22 June 2026 · Tony Sheldon ALP

    The member asked how the wage review decision would provide cost-of-living relief for workers. He also sought details on the importance and support for the recent pay rise extension for early childhood educators.

    Answered by Murray Watt

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    Senate · Monday 22 June 2026 · Tammy Tyrrell ALP

    The member asked why the early childhood sector was important and how the government was supporting families through investment. She sought details on how policies would lower costs for families.

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    House of Representatives · Monday 22 June 2026 · Cassandra Fernando ALP

    The member asked how the government was assisting early childhood teachers while maintaining affordable fees for families and what the response had been.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    House of Representatives · Thursday 4 June 2026 · Julie-Ann Campbell ALP

    The member asked how the government was strengthening safety in early childhood education and care settings.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Budget

    House of Representatives · Tuesday 26 May 2026 · Angus Taylor Liberal

    The member asked whether the government would exempt specific sectors, including hairdressers, builders, and childcare operators, from alleged tax increases and policy failures.

    Answered by Anthony Albanese

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    Senate · Thursday 12 March 2026 · Corinne Mulholland ALP

    The member asked for an update on how the government was delivering on early education commitments. She sought details on practical support for parents and children.

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    House of Representatives · Tuesday 3 March 2026 · Carina Garland ALP

    The member asked about progress on implementing safety reforms in early education and care and what other approaches were being considered.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Early Childhood Education and Care

    House of Representatives · Thursday 5 February 2026 · Rob Mitchell ALP

    The member asked what reforms were being delivered to help disadvantaged children access early education and to improve safety in the early education and care system.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Albanese Government

    Senate · Tuesday 3 February 2026 · Helen Polley ALP

    The member asked how the Albanese Labor government was delivering on its commitments to the Australian people regarding cost-of-living pressures, healthcare, and childcare.

    Answered by Penny Wong

  • Early Childhood Education

    Senate · Thursday 27 November 2025 · Karen Grogan ALP

    The senator asked the minister to outline government actions to retain skilled early childhood educators and address their underpayment.

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Child Care

    Senate · Thursday 30 October 2025 · Richard Colbeck Liberal

    The member asked how many recommendations from the report had been implemented and when the work would be completed. He specifically highlighted Recommendation 5.3 regarding multisite services, noting that two centres in...

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Child Abuse: Childcare Centres

    Senate · Tuesday 28 October 2025 · Steph Hodgins-May Greens

    The senator asked why the minister had not appeared on Four Corners to address the crisis in childcare safety, given the severity of the revelations. She followed up by asking when the government would stop prioritising ...

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Early Childhood Education

    Senate · Wednesday 3 September 2025 · Lisa Darmanin ALP

    The member asked what the government was doing to back early childhood educators and stabilize the workforce.

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Early Childhood Education

    Senate · Wednesday 27 August 2025 · Karen Grogan ALP

    The senator asked what the government was doing to back the early childhood workforce and ensure their work was properly recognised. She also asked how the worker retention payment was benefiting children by ensuring a s...

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Child Care

    House of Representatives · Monday 25 August 2025 · Mary Doyle ALP

    The member asked about progress on reforming working-with-children checks and any recent updates.

    Answered by Michelle Rowland

  • Child Care

    House of Representatives · Monday 25 August 2025 · Lisa Chesters ALP

    The member asked what the government was doing to improve safety in childcare centers.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Child Care

    House of Representatives · Thursday 31 July 2025 · Matt Gregg ALP

    The member asked what actions the government was taking to improve safety standards in early education and care settings.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Child Care

    House of Representatives · Thursday 31 July 2025 · Sussan Ley Liberal

    The member thanked the minister for working constructively on child care safety legislation and urged the government to ensure states implement a national worker register, consistent checks, and bans on personal devices ...

    Answered by No answer provided in transcript

  • Child Care

    Senate · Monday 28 July 2025 · Richard Colbeck Liberal

    The senator asked why the government was closing multi-educator family day care services in areas with long waiting lists, citing a specific case in Latrobe and another in Devonport.

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Child Care

    House of Representatives · Monday 28 July 2025 · Mary Doyle ALP

    The member asked what the government was doing to ensure working-with-children checks were suitable for their intended purpose.

    Answered by Michelle Rowland

  • Child Abuse: Childcare Centres

    Senate · Thursday 24 July 2025 · Jonathon Duniam Liberal

    The senator asked when childcare laws across Australia would begin, noting that state and territory governments hold primary responsibility for urgent reforms to the sector.

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Child Care

    Senate · Thursday 24 July 2025 · Fatima Payman Australia's Voice

    The senator asked how the government supports parents who wish to stay at home with their children given rising living costs.

    Answered by Jess Walsh

  • Child Abuse: Child Care

    House of Representatives · Wednesday 23 July 2025 · Jess Teesdale ALP

    The member asked what the government was doing to improve child safety in early education and care services.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Child Abuse: Child Care

    House of Representatives · Wednesday 23 July 2025 · Sussan Ley Liberal

    The member expressed her desire to work positively on child safety issues and noted the seriousness of recent allegations.

    Answered by Sussan Ley (Leader of the Opposition)

  • Early Childhood Education

    House of Representatives · Thursday 27 March 2025 · Libby Coker ALP

    The member asked what actions the government had taken to build a simple, affordable, and accessible early education system, and if anything could put this at risk.

    Answered by Anne Aly

  • Early Childhood Education

    House of Representatives · Wednesday 26 March 2025 · Mary Doyle ALP

    The member asked what actions the government was taking to make early childhood education cheaper and more accessible for families.

    Answered by Anne Aly

  • Child Care

    House of Representatives · Thursday 13 February 2025 · Mary Doyle ALP

    The member asked what actions the government had taken to reform early childhood education and what risks might jeopardize these gains.

    Answered by Anne Aly

  • Early Childhood Education

    House of Representatives · Monday 10 February 2025 · Sam Rae ALP

    The member asked how the government is reforming the sector to help families manage living expenses and whether any factors could put these reforms at risk.

    Answered by Anne Aly

  • Early Childhood Education

    House of Representatives · Thursday 6 February 2025 · Louise Miller-Frost ALP

    The member asked how the government was reforming the early childhood sector and what risks existed from alternative policies.

    Answered by Anne Aly

  • Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025

    House of Representatives · Wednesday 5 February 2025 · Gordon Reid ALP

    The member asked how the government was helping families with early childhood education costs and whether any risks existed that could leave families worse off.

    Answered by Anne Aly

  • Child Care

    House of Representatives · Wednesday 5 February 2025 · Libby Coker ALP

    The member asked what the government was doing to broaden access to early education and care in regional areas and whether other spending approaches would leave Australians worse off.

    Answered by Jason Clare

  • Cost of Living

    House of Representatives · Tuesday 4 February 2025 · Matt Burnell ALP

    The member asked how the government was delivering cost-of-living assistance for early childhood education and if any proposals would jeopardise this.

    Answered by Anne Aly

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