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

Summary

Early childhood education and care workers would receive wage support through a special government account, addressing low pay in the sector. The legislation creates a dedicated funding mechanism to provide financial assistance to workers in early childhood services, likely amending or working alongside the Childcare Subsidy Act 2018 and related funding arrangements. This matters because childcare workers have long faced below-average wages despite the essential nature of their work, and the special account ensures ongoing, structured support rather than ad-hoc funding, while the 'Strengthening Safety' component suggests it also aims to improve working conditions and service quality standards in early childhood settings.

What happens at this stage

The final vote in this chamber on the bill as a whole, after all amendments have been considered. If it passes, the bill moves to the other chamber to go through the same process. If both chambers have already agreed to identical text, the bill proceeds directly to Royal Assent.

Next: The other chamber, which runs the same process from First Reading, or Royal Assent if both chambers have already agreed