Get Involved - Parliament

Community Preschools

Published on: March 2026

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-162657

Community Preschools

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (11:58:32):

My question is directed to the Minister for Education and Early Learning. The Fair Work Commission has called on the Government to increase funding for community preschools, otherwise parents will face higher fees. Yet at budget estimates the Minister urged community preschools to "find a way to pay". Is the Minister expecting parents to fund the community preschool wage increase that the Fair Work Commission has said is her Government's responsibility?

Ms PRUE CAR (LondonderryDeputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning, and Minister for Western Sydney) (11:58:53):

— Liberal Party members saying, "What about the community preschool teachers?", but then saying, "Actually, we shouldn't have given the teachers in schools a pay rise; we've got too many public service workers", just shows their hypocrisy. So the Opposition supports a pay rise for community preschool teachers but no other teachers. Is that it? That might change tomorrow, but it is very confusing. It is hypocrisy at best. At worst, Opposition members cannot agree on one position that is sustainable and easy to argue in the community. I will say again what I said during budget estimates. The Fair Work Commission has asked the Government to review the funding of community preschools, and we are in the middle of doing that. I want to be clear with the Parliament and everyone that the Government is not the employer of community preschool teachers.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

Point of order—

The SPEAKER:

It is very early in the Minister's answer, but the Minister will resume her seat while I hear the point of order.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

The Deputy Premier is misleading the House. The Fair Work Commission ruled that they need to—

The SPEAKER:

This is not the way to deal with that allegation. The member for North Shore will resume her seat.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

It is a point of order.

The SPEAKER:

The member for North Shore will resume her seat or leave the Chamber. The Minister has the call.

Ms PRUE CAR:

Does anyone actually believe the Liberals really give a stuff about paying anyone a fair wage? The truth is the Government will work through reviewing that funding. We are not the employer. I am sorry to admit that some community preschools have the ability to pay their workers, and we want to see those workers paid fairly. We will work with community preschools that may be worried their viability is at risk because of the Fair Work Commission hearing. The truth hurts the Opposition.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

Point of order—

The SPEAKER:

The Clerk will stop the clock.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

I refer the Deputy Premier to the question, which was about whether parents are required to pay increased fees.

The SPEAKER:

The point of order is about direct relevance. The Minister is being directly relevant.

Ms PRUE CAR:

I urge community preschools to pay their workers correctly and not increase fees. That is what I would say. The Government is not the employer. I do not know whether those opposite understand that. We are reviewing the funding, and I urge community preschool providers to pay their workers fairly in the middle of a shortage crisis.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

I would urge you to pay them fairly.

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for North Shore to order for the third time.

Ms PRUE CAR:

Do not come into this House and lecture us on paying people fairly. Opposition members might say that about community preschools, but their leader, the member for Vaucluse, told the Liberal Party State council that there are too many workers in the public service. The quiet bit that she did not say out loud was "Maybe we need to get rid of those public service workers." She has no credibility when it comes to fair pay for any workforce.

Mr Adam Crouch:

Point of order: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129, direct relevance. The Deputy Premier is nowhere near being relevant.

The SPEAKER:

The Minister's time has expired. I direct the member for Terrigal to remove himself from the Chamber under Standing Order 249A for making an unnecessary and disrespectful remark.

Pursuant to standing order the member for Terrigal left the Chamber at 12:01.

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