Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) (Extending Support and Strengthening Safety) Bill 2026

Matt O'Sullivan

I move the opposition's second reading amendment:

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) welcomes the certainty that would be provided to the sector, and the avoidance of price shocks for families, if the worker retention payment ends in November 2026; and

(b) notes:

(i) the Government's failure to address the cost-of-living and operating cost pressures affecting families and providers,

(ii) that requiring a workplace instrument to access the payment places unnecessary administrative burdens on providers and places pressure on providers and employers to negotiate union agreements,

(iii) that the eligibility requirements for the payment effectively exclude much of the family day care and in-home care workforce, and

(iv) that extending the temporary payment does not provide a sustainable long-term funding model beyond June 2028".

Sue Lines

The question is that the second reading amendment as moved by Senator O'Sullivan on sheet 4097 be agreed to.