Australian Labor Pledges $3.6 Billion to Raise Childcare Wages by 15 Percent

Meanwhile, centres are barred from raising parent fees by more than 4.4 percent over the next year.

Grade one students enjoy returning to the classroom at Lysterfield Primary School on October 12, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The government has announced a $3.6 billion (US$2.36 billion) pay boost for early childcare workers, set to be distributed over two years from funds set aside in the budget in the May budget.

It represents an increase of 15 percent, but is still significantly less than the 25 percent that was sought.