Child Care

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, which means it wasn't passed. The motion concerned early childhood education and care and the people who work in the industry.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges:

(i) the important work early childhood educators and childcare staff around the country do in helping care for our young children,

(ii) that early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a critical component of lifelong learning,

(iii) that ECEC workers are trusted and skilled carers and educators, and

(iv) that ECEC educators and staff, earning as low as $21 per hour, are underpaid for the important job they dedicate their lives to; and

(b) supports:

(i) the early childhood educators and workers taking part in the largest walk-off industrial action on 7 September 2017, and

(ii) a 35 per cent pay increase to ECEC educators' and workers' salaries.