Taxpayer-funded pay rises for childcare workers could continue for another three years as an extension of the measure returns to parliament for debate.
A government-supported wage rise was introduced in 2024 and applied to 200,000 early educators, but the measure is due to run out in November.
A Fair Work Commission-ordered wage rise for workers in female-dominated industries had been due to kick in, forcing the private sector to pay higher staff salaries.
But the implementation was delayed over concerns childcare providers would be unable to deliver the pay rise without significantly hiking fees.
Instead, the government will move to continue funding the subsidy until late 2029.
Coalition members have concerns about the temporary nature of the multibillion-dollar scheme and its potential effect on the cost of childcare once it lapses.
Children will be the focus of critical debate throughout the sitting fortnight as Communications Minister Anika Wells encourages parliament to vote for amendments to strengthen Labor’s existing under-16s social media ban.
Draft laws to make social media companies provide an opt-out for algorithm-driven feeds are also expected to be unveiled in the coming week.
Part of broader “digital duty of care” reforms, the legislation is expected to come under fire as the coalition complains of impingement on freedom of speech and the Greens label proposed $100 million maximum fines a slap on the wrist.
Meanwhile, the Liberals will promote their newly-announced plan to criminalise flag-burning, a policy that apes a measure previously put forward by One Nation.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said on Sunday the plan was about defending Australia, denying it had been concocted to ward off the coalition’s right-wing rivals.
He also touted his party’s proposed 80 per cent cut to tobacco excise to discourage illegal imports, a measure he denied would lead to higher smoking rates.
Labor is expected to push the coalition to release its Parliamentary Budget Office modelling of the policy.
It is also expected to spend Question Time pushing the opposition for details of possible plans to allow first home buyers to access their superannuation to fund deposits.
The coalition took similar “super for housing” policies to the 2022 and 2025 elections, both of which it lost to Labor, and Mr Taylor said he had an “open mind” to pursuing the scheme again.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the opposition leader’s comments showed universal superannuation was not safe under the coalition or One Nation.
“They will decimate super and destroy the economic security and retirement incomes of Australian workers,” he said.
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