KAREN MORAN, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR: We welcome this decision by the Albanese Labor government today that’s been 20 years in the making. Early childhood educators perform some of the most vital work in the country, but for so long they have been the most undervalued and underpaid. And this decision today will change people’s lives. It means that early childhood educators who've been relying on Foodbank to feed their own families won't have to do that anymore.
SARAH MACDONALD, HOST: Well, the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, does join me now on ABC Radio Sydney to celebrate Australia and our Olympic success. Good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Good to be with you, Sarah.
MACDONALD: Well, you sound happy.
Every day, parents trust early educators with the most important people in their world, and every day Australia asks early educators to do one of the most important jobs imaginable.
Today, we are making sure those educators are fairly paid.
The Albanese Government will fund a 15 per cent wage increase for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workers.
This wage increase will be tied to a commitment from Child Care Centres to limit fee increases. We want to make sure workers can be fairly paid without the costs being passed on to families.
NATALIE BARR, HOST: There's fresh cost of living relief on the way this morning with major changes on the way to the price of child care.
MATT SHIRVINGTON, HOST: It comes in the form of a pay increase for workers, which the Albanese government says would help keep fees down for families. And for more, Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese joins us now. Hello PM, great to have you with us.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Great to be with you.
PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: $100 extra dollars every week will be in the pockets of child care workers right across the country as a Christmas gift from the Federal Government. Joining us live is the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Pete.
LISA MILLAR, HOST: There is some big news out of politics this morning with the Federal Government unveiling a multibillion dollar plan to improve pay for child care workers. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, joins us now live from Kirribilli. Prime Minister, good morning to you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Lisa. It's a very chilly morning, I've got to say, here in Kirribilli.
JEROME LAXALE, MEMBER FOR BENNELONG: Well, G'day, everyone, we're here in Bennelong. I'd like to acknowledge the traditional owners, the Wallumedegal and thank the Prime Minister for coming. This is the PM’s fifth visit to Bennelong, if my count is correct, and what an extraordinary day we've had here today, officially opening NextSense as part of Macquarie University, this incredible ecosystem of hearing, health and innovation.
Well thank you for those generous comments.
I welcome, as well, the Mayor of Penrith here and other distinguished guests who are here.
My old mate Sally Fielke, and Gerard Dwyer is here somewhere – there he is.
He’s always a bit shy, Gerard. I notice that about the Union Movement, they’re always shy about putting themselves forward. But it is good to have the representative of the workers here and their trade union.
But this is an example of government working with the private sector, as James said.
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
It is such a pleasure to be with you here at Macquarie University today for the opening of the NextSense Centre for Innovation.
To come to an opening like this is absolutely one of the highlights of my job because it is the concrete result of commitment and dedication.
Crucially, it represents the possibility of a better future for so many Australians with hearing or vision loss.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. ASIO has decided to return Australia's National Terrorism Threat Level from 'Possible' to 'Probable'. My Government's first priority is the safety and security of Australians, and this morning I convened a National Security Committee meeting to hear from the Director-General and also then we have just completed a Cabinet meeting. I want to reassure Australians, 'probable' does not mean 'inevitable' and it does not mean there is intelligence about an imminent threat or danger.