14th Nov 2019, 12:26 PM – Senate Motions - Education - Early childhood

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart (Labor), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) recognises that:

(i) the first three years of life determine essential foundations for learning, development, and well-being into adulthood,

(ii) access to affordable, high quality early education and care is critical to children's early development,

(iii) all Australian children deserve access to quality early education and care, regardless of where they live, and

(iv) childcare costs are going up for working families, who are already struggling with stagnating wages, a slowing economy, and skyrocketing costs of living; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to make early childhood education and care a priority, provide long-term funding certainty for four year old preschool and extend the program to three year olds.