Australian Greens Early Childhood Education and Care spokesperson Senator Steph Hodgins-May says Labor’s promise to increase early childhood education and care wages doesn’t go far enough.
Greens Early Childhood Education and Care spokesperson, Senator Steph Hodgins-May:
“Labor’s just signed off on annual childcare fee hikes that are higher than inflation. Pay increases for staff are crucial but they should come with universal free childcare.
“Labor’s announcement of a 15 percent pay rise for early childhood education workers is long overdue but doesn’t go far enough – Labor must commit to union calls for a 25 percent wage increase.
“This is a workforce in crisis. For too long, educators have been underpaid and as a result are leaving the industry in droves.
“Families across Australia are missing out on critical early education because of workforce shortages and childcare deserts.
“If we want high quality universal early years education, we must invest in a sustainable workforce. That’s why the Greens want to ensure early childhood educators have well paid, secure jobs.
“Labor must commit to going that step further and paying our educators what they’ve been calling for and what they deserve, for doing the most important work imaginable – educating and caring for our kids.”