PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Ms ROBERTS (Pearce) (12:52): That's correct. The incorporated speech read as follows— I rise to speak in strong support of this motion and to commend the Albanese Labor government for its continued investment in Australia's early childhood education and care sector—an investment that is making a real difference for families and educators in my electorate of Pearce.
Across communities like Carramar, Alkimos, Tapping, and Yanchep, early childhood centres are not just places of care; they are the backbone of working family life. They enable parents to participate in the workforce, they support children through their most formative years and they help build the strong, connected communities we value so deeply in Pearce. And yet, for too long, the educators at the heart of these centres have been undervalued and underpaid.
That is why locking in a 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators, backed by a further $3.6 billion investment over the next two years, is so significant. It is a reform that recognises the professionalism and dedication of more than 200,000 educators nationwide, including thousands across Western Australia and many right across my electorate. In Pearce, I have spoken with educators who are deeply committed to their work but have struggled with the reality of low wages and rising living costs.
These are people who are shaping young minds, supporting emotional development, and providing stability for children and families. But they have often had to make difficult financial choices in their own lives. This reform begins to change that.
Combined with minimum wage increases, a typical full-time educator will now earn around $255 more per week than when this Albanese Labor government first came to office. For early childhood teachers, that figure rises to around $410 more per week. For an educator in Butler or Wanneroo, that can mean the difference between falling behind and keeping up with rent, groceries and fuel.
It is practical support that recognises both the value of their work and the cost-of-living pressures facing households across Pearce. Importantly, this investment also delivers for families. In growing areas such as Eglinton, Yanchep and Two Rocks, where young families are moving in significant numbers, access to affordable, high-quality early learning is essential.
Parents need confidence that they can access care that is not only safe and nurturing but also financially manageable. That is why linking funding eligibility to a cap on fee increases is so important. It ensures that wage increases for educators do not come at the expense of families already balancing tight budgets.
And just as critically, tying that funding to meeting the national safety standard reinforces that quality and safety must always come first. Families in Pearce deserve nothing less than the assurance that their children are learning in environments that meet the highest standards. This is thoughtful, balanced policy.
It supports educators, protects families, and strengthens the system as a whole. It also reflects a broader understanding—that investing in early childhood education is an investment in our future. When children in suburbs such as Pearsall or Banksia Grove have access to high-quality early learning, they are better prepared for school.
They develop the social and cognitive skills that set them up for lifelong success. And they do so in environments supported by educators who are properly valued and fairly paid. This is how we build stronger communities.
This is how we support working families. And this is how we ensure that every child—no matter where they live—gets the best possible start in life. I commend the Albanese Labor government for valuing early childhood educators, for easing cost-of-living pressures on both workers and families and for building the early education system that Australian children deserve.