22nd Nov 2022, 6:28 PM – Senate Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Cheaper Child Care) Bill 2022 - in Committee - Extend to other staff

The majority voted against amendments introduced by NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi (Greens), which means they failed.

What did these amendments do?

Senator Faurqi explained that:

The bill as it's drafted allows providers to give educators employed in their centres a discount on their services. This discount is intended to assist in attracting and retaining educators. It does provide a little bit of that benefit, but it is completely inadequate for that purpose. We support this measure because it does provide support to educators, but, importantly, it is a bit unfair because it excludes many of the other staff at centres. We see no reason why other staff who are not educators but still work at early childhood education and care centres and do important work should not be included in this. These staff are necessary for the functioning of early childhood education and care centres and should not miss out on this discount.

Amendment text

(1) Schedule 5, item 3, page 23 (line 19), omit "educator".

(2) Schedule 5, item 4, page 23 (line 24), omit "educator".

(3) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 2), omit "educator", substitute "individual".

(4) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 7), omit "educator".

(5) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (lines 12 to 14), omit ", as an educator (within the meaning of the Education and Care Services National Law)".

(6) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 18), omit "educator".

(7) Schedule 5, item 5, page 24 (line 23), omit "educator".

(8) Schedule 6, item 2, page 27 (line 23), omit "educator".

(9) Schedule 6, item 5, page 28 (line 9), omit "educator".

(10) Schedule 6, item 5, page 28 (line 14), omit "educator".