QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WALSH (Victoria—Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth) (15:02): On this side of the chamber, we know that our nation's early childhood educators are not babysitters. We know that our nation's educators, over 95 per cent of them women, are highly skilled. They are dedicated, they are essential and, yes, they are qualified too.

One Nation thinks educators don't need to be qualified at all. But qualified educators understand how children's brains develop. They understand early literacy and numeracy.

They promote social and emotional wellbeing. They do that in the first five years of a child's life, when over 95 per cent of brain development occurs. Their work matters.

We back these early childhood educators. We see them, we value them and we are proud to back them in with our historic 15 per cent pay rise, because we know that qualified early educators are the foundation of the quality sector that families deserve. The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong?

Senator Wong: I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.