Early Childhood Education and Care (Strengthening Regulation of Early Education) Bill 2025

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). This amendment was introduced by Victorian Senator Steph Hodgins-May (Greens).

Amendment text

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

(a) notes the need for broader reform to make early childhood education and care universal and high-quality; and

(b) calls on the Government to establish an independent national Early Childhood Education and Care Commission, which should:

(i) have regulatory powers to monitor and enforce compliance with the National Quality Standards,

(ii) be tasked with leading national coordination and sector-wide reform, and

(iii) drive the long-term transition to a free, universal and high-quality early education system".