QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (14:24): Thanks again, Senator Sheldon. The pay rise for early childhood educators is absolutely vital because it provides them with a $255 a week pay rise. Senator Cash interjecting— Senator WATT: What was that, Senator Cash?

Senator Cash: I said, 'To deal with inflation.' Senator WATT: You're worried about low-paid workers getting a pay rise? The PRESIDENT: Minister Watt. Senator WATT: You don't want low-paid workers to get a pay rise?

The PRESIDENT: Minister Watt! Senator WATT: I know someone else like that: Senator Hanson. The Liberal Party and One Nation are on a unity ticket to keep wages low.

We are locking in that pay rise for early childhood educators, and we're funding it with a $3.6 billion investment. This pay rise is helping them pay their bills. It's helping them save and, importantly, it's helping them stay in jobs that they love.

This is great news for educators and great news for parents as well. But one person who didn't back it, of course, was Senator Hanson from the One Nation party. When asked what she thought of the government's increased funding for child care, she said that was 'ridiculous'.

And when asked if the pay rises for early childhood educators are unnecessary, Senator Hanson replied, 'Didn't they get a pay rise not so long ago?' The PRESIDENT: Senator Sheldon, second supplementary?