Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026

Ms TRISH COOK (Bullwinkel) (17:39): I rise today to speak on the Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026 and to highlight the Albanese Labor government's profound commitment to building a better and fairer education system for all Australians. We on this side of the House understand a fundamental truth: education is the great enabler. It is the key that unlocks the door of opportunity, giving the next generation of Australians the very best start in life and equipping our nation for the challenges and complexities of the future.

Our vision for education is comprehensive; it starts with our youngest citizens. The Albanese government is committed to building a universal early childhood education and care system that is safe, affordable and accessible for every family. Our cheaper childcare policy is already delivering real cost-of-living relief for over a million Australian families.

For the average family receiving the subsidy, this has cut out-of-pocket costs by about $7,000 compared to what they would ordinarily have paid. This stands in stark contrast to the legacy of those opposite, under whom childcare prices rocketed by 49 per cent in just four years. We also recognise that a quality system is built by a quality workforce, which is why the 15 per cent pay rise for our dedicated early childhood educators is so vitally important.

And we're going further; we're working towards a three-day guarantee, which will ensure that, as of January 2026, each child is guaranteed access to at least three days of high-quality early learning. It will give every Australian child the best possible start. Then, as children move into their school years, our commitment continues.

For too long our public schools have been left behind. When we came to government, no public school outside of the ACT was on a path to full and fair funding. Our Better and Fairer Schools Agreement changed that.

This is the biggest new investment in public schools by an Australian government ever. An additional $16.5 billion over the next decade will put every single public school on a pathway to 100 per cent of its full and fair funding. But let me be clear: this is not a blank cheque.

This funding is tied directly to reforms that we know will make a difference: more small-group tutoring to help students catch up, a focus on phonics and numeracy in the early years, and more mental health and individualised support where these are needed. The commitment extends right through to higher education, where we're building a better and fairer system so that more Australians can have a crack at going to university and can succeed when they get there.

We are taking decisive action to ease the burden of student debt. We have already wiped $3 billion in debt for three million Australians, ensuring that student debt can no longer grow faster than wages. Now, through legislation recently passed, we are wiping by 20 per cent the student debt of every Australian student with a HECS debt.

This isn't some abstract national figure; this is real, tangible impact right in my electorate of Bullwinkel, where 13,000 students and graduates will benefit directly from this 20 per cent cut. But we know that for many in regional Australia the biggest barrier to higher education is distance, and that's why our government is doubling the number of university study hubs, bringing university closer to where people live.

I'm immensely proud that in Bullwinkel we are seeing the direct benefits of this policy. The Lumen Wheatbelt regional university study hub in York is already changing lives, and I'm thrilled that we'll soon be opening another hub in Northam, in the heart of the regional area of Bullwinkel. These hubs are not just buildings; they are gateways to opportunity, allowing local people to pursue their dreams without having to leave their homes and communities.

From cheaper child care for families and fair funding for our public schools to real relief from student debt and greater access to universities for regional Australians, the Labor government is delivering. And that's not to forget fee-free TAFE, financially supported apprenticeships and paid prac for teachers, nurses and social workers. I commend this bill to the House.