STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms BRISKEY (Maribyrnong) (13:53): This country has always relied on early childhood educators, but you wouldn't know it from what they've been paid. Our government is changing that and last week committed a further $3.6 billion to secure the 15 per cent pay rise into the future. We're backing a workforce, a profession, that has been underpaid and undervalued for simply too long, brushed aside as glorified babysitters.

Unfortunately, we heard this tired old view again just recently at the National Press Club in the idea that you shouldn't need 'some sort of qualification' to look after a child. As a parent—and I know many parents stand with me—I utterly reject this notion, as does this government. Every parent who has seen the difference that their child's educator has made in either their son's or their daughter's life knows exactly how fundamental this work is.

A qualification—the skills and training—keeps our children safe and makes sure that the quiet one, the anxious one and the one bursting with questions each get exactly what they need. Educators have been fighting to be recognised and valued for decades. I'm proud to stand with them and their union, the United Workers Union, every step of the way, and now I'm proud to be a member of a government that has delivered for educators the pay rise that they deserve but that also recognises there's more work to do.

To every early childhood educator out there: I see you, our government values you and we'll keep delivering for you.