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 ongoing wage support through a dedicated special account, addressing persistent low pay in the sector. The legislation creates a new funding mechanism to extend financial assistance to childcare workers and strengthens workplace safety protections for this workforce. This matters because childcare workers have historically struggled with low wages despite the critical nature of their work, and the dedicated account ensures the support continues rather than relying on year-to-year budget decisions. The special account structure provides stability and predictability for workers in a sector essential to parents' ability to work and children's early development.

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