2023-04-19
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Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed the Women's Economic Equality Taskforce’s recommendations that the Government scrap the activity test and give early childhood education and care workers a pay rise in the May budget. The Australian Greens’ have long called for these measures. Senator Faruqi said: “The activity test is a disgrace of a policy. It is cruel, punitive and beyond repair. “The activity test denies access to early childhood education and care for the most disadvantaged children and punishes families with insecure, casual work. “Many thousands of children from disadvantaged families are missing out on early childhood education and care because of the activity test- it should be abolished now. “Dumping the activity test would represent significant progress towards the Greens vision of free, universal early childhood education and care. “The treatment of early childhood education and care workers is a national shame. They continue to be paid well below what they deserve. “The government can’t keep delaying action. Early childhood education and care workers deserve a pay rise now and recognition and respect for the important work they do. They have been undervalued for far too long. |