The Case for a National Public Childcare System
Public Investment in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)
A lot of taxpayers' money is funelled into Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), but we are not getting bang for our buck as this investment finds its way into for-profit ECEC providers, who prioritise shareholder outcomes over quality of care, worker wellbeing, cost and accessibility.
The issue is not simply the level of funding, but structure, distribution, and accountability surrounding those funds.
A nationalised, publicly-led system would better align investment with outcomes.
I am committed to transitioning to a national public ECEC system and will not stop fighting for it in parliament.
Over the next five years, the Government should prioritise:
Phase 1 (May 2026)
Deliver a meaningful pay increase for all ECEC workers in the 2026 Budget. Give the workers the 20% increase unions have been campaigning for and cement this through ongoing funding, not a temporary grant. This is critical to addressing workforce shortages, improving retention, and lifting the overall quality of care and education.
Phase 2 (2026 - 2028)
Progressively reduce reliance on for-profit provision through the targeted buyback of services, beginning with providers exiting the market, such as the closure of centres operated by G8 Education. This should be complemented by the construction of high-quality, purpose-built centres in under-served and high-demand areas.
Phase 3 (2028 and beyond)
Use data-driven planning to map unmet demand and expand access to publicly operated centres, ensuring all Australian families, regardless of geography or income, can access affordable, high-quality ECEC.
