GRIEVANCE DEBATE
Ms DOYLE (Aston) (13:00): We all know the type—the people from local organisations that put on a feed for people who are having a hard time feeding themselves; those in a community group that support women and children fleeing family and domestic violence; the club presidents and coaches who give up their evenings and weekends to ensure local sporting clubs run smoothly, the team members' skills are sharply honed and their spirits inspired; the teacher who goes above and beyond to support their students' learning; the volunteer at the barbecue who makes the best snags and keeps the community connected; and the parents and carers in their kids' community theatre group, who don't just direct and inspire young talent but build their confidence, sew costumes and create incredible sets.
These are the quiet achievers in our communities. They don't ask for recognition and they don't seek the spotlight, but, without them, our communities simply would not function the way they do. These people and organisations are the very reason why the Tilly Aston Community Awards were created a couple of years ago.
These awards recognise and celebrate the individuals and groups in the Aston electorate who go above and beyond: those who show exceptional dedication, leadership, selflessness and care for others. The awards commemorate a truly remarkable woman, Matilda Aston, who was known as Tilly. Tilly was a blind writer, a teacher, a poet and a very fierce disability activist—arguably one of this country's first.
The federal electorate of Aston is named after this incredible woman, who was born in December 1873, nearly 153 years ago. These awards honour a legacy of service and community spirit that continues to inspire today. Nominations are now open to anyone living or working in the electorate of Aston, and I especially encourage self-nominations.
Sometimes the people doing the most meaningful work do not realise just how much of a difference they are making. In Aston, volunteers are the backbone of our community. They give their time freely, driven not by profit but by a genuine desire to help others.
As the representative for the electorate of Aston, I recognise that contribution, I respect it and I will always support it. Supporting our communities also means backing the workers who keep those communities running every single day. On this side of the chamber we stand firmly with workers and their families.
We back workers on the minimum wage and those on modern awards. We welcome the decision by the Fair Work Commission to increase the minimum wage by 5.97 per cent to $26.44 per hour, alongside a 4.75 per cent increase to award wages from 1 July this year. This is a positive outcome for around three million low-paid workers across Australia.
These are the workers who keep our economy moving and our communities functioning: cleaners, retail workers, fast-food workers, hospitality staff and so many others. They work hard, often in challenging conditions, and they deserve to be paid fairly for the contributions they make. The Albanese Labor government has consistently advocated for fair wage increases because we believe in one simple principle: if you work hard, you should be able to get ahead.
In my electorate of Aston, this decision will make a real difference to households. It means more money in the pockets of working people at the end of the week and a little less pressure when it comes to paying the bills. Labor has always been the party of working people.
It is part of our history, part of our identity and part of our ongoing commitment to fairness. The contrast right now could not be clearer. While we support higher wages and better conditions for workers, there are some who have consistently opposed measures that would lift the incomes of low-paid Australians.
Time after time, members of the three-ring circus, the 'Liberal One National party', have voted against workers rights and supporting those who need it the most. On this side of the chamber, we will always back workers, we will always support fair pay and we will always put the interests of everyday Australians ahead of the interests of billionaires and vested interests.
Supporting workers also means recognising the value of some of the most important jobs in our communities. Recently I had the pleasure of visiting two outstanding early learning centres in my electorate, Goodstart Early Learning Wantirna South on Cathies Lane and Little Stars Early Learning and Kindergarten in Ferntree Gully. At Goodstart, I met with dedicated educators and enthusiastic children who reminded me just how important those early years are.
At Little Stars, I spoke with Mark and Annette about the incredible work they are doing for local families, and I even had the chance to meet their cute little chook called Bingo and their adorable and highly excitable turtle called Dougie. These visits are always a joy, but they are also a powerful reminder: early childhood educators play a vital role in shaping the next generation.
They help children learn, grow and develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. Being an early childhood educator is one of the most important jobs in the country, and they should be paid fairly for that work. That's why the Albanese government funded a 15 per cent pay rise for early education and care workers.
The Albanese government is investing a further $3.6 billion over the next two years to lock in this historic 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators. This investment will be tied to a commitment from childcare centres to limit fee increases. We want to make sure workers can be paid fairly without the costs being passed on to families.
When combined with our support for minimum wage rises, this will mean $255 more per week for a typical full-time educator and $410 more per week for early childhood educators, compared to December 2024, when the government first implemented the pay rise. Our government understands that strong communities rely on volunteers who give their time and heart and on workers who give their skill and effort.
Whether it is recognising volunteers through the Tilly Aston Community Awards or delivering fair wage increases for millions of workers, our government is focused on what matters to people in my community. We are building stronger communities, we are supporting working people and we are ensuring that no-one is left behind, because at the end of the day, when we back workers and we support volunteers, we strengthen the very fabric of our society, and that is something worth standing up for.