$10-a-day childcare: this could be Albanese's long-lasting legacy

The clear victory for the Albanese government wasn't just about returning a government - it was about endorsing a vision for bold reforms that improve everyday lives.

I recall the quiet determination in the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's voice when, moments after his first swearing-in ceremony, he spoke of his desire to make universal childcare a part of our national story.

Throughout his first term and again during this campaign, most notably during two leaders' debates, he articulated this vision with growing conviction. In doing so, he placed himself squarely in the tradition of transformative Labor leaders who recognised that universal access to essential services defines the character of our great nation.

Every Prime Minister hopes to leave a lasting legacy, but few receive the clear mandate that Anthony Albanese now holds.

Voters haven't just returned his government; they've strengthened his position, giving him the authority to deliver on his vision for universal early childhood education and care in Australia.

In their first term, the Albanese Labor government took significant strides toward this vision.

They've funded a well-deserved and long overdue wage increase for our nation's early educators, who are the backbone of our early learning system, to help strengthen the early learning workforce.

They've made training pathways for aspiring educators easier through the provision of fee-free TAFE.

They've abolished the punitive activity test, which has long prevented thousands of vulnerable children from accessing the benefits of early learning and have guaranteed Australian families three days of subsidised childcare per week.

They've committed a record investment of $1 billion to build or expand early learning services in areas of need, mostly in regional and rural Australia.

This progress has made a genuine difference in the lives of thousands of Australian families.

Parents who previously faced impossible choices between work and care have found new options.

Children who might have missed out on early learning are now participating.

Communities that lacked early learning services will soon begin seeing new investments.

But the journey isn't complete. The crucial next step - the reform that would truly deliver universal access - is capping daily fees at $10 per day, three days weekly, for most families while making early learning free for those on low incomes.

Despite significant improvements, families continue to grapple with early learning costs that have spiralled at four times the rate of inflation.

For households with young children, these expenses often represent their second-highest financial burden, eclipsed only by housing costs.

READ MORE:

These aren't abstract budget line items - they're financial pressures that reshape career trajectories, influence family planning decisions, and directly impact quality of life across the country.

The electoral map tells a compelling story about where Australian families have placed their trust.

In areas with high concentrations of young families - both inner and outer metropolitan suburbs - Labor has made significant gains, with many of these electorates having elected their first-ever Labor MPs.

These families have seen Labor's vision for early childhood education, and they have seen the Coalition's lack of a comprehensive alternative.

They've overwhelmingly given their support to a government with a clear plan for addressing the pressures they face daily.

The contrast couldn't be clearer - while one side offered a detailed roadmap for universal early learning, the other provided no meaningful solution to the childcare affordability crisis affecting millions of Australian families.

Voters across the country recognise that Labor has a clear plan to bring down cost-of-living pressures, and they want the government to deliver.

A universal early learning system with fees capped at $10/day, three days a week, is exactly the kind of cost-of-living relief people want and have voted for.

A truly universal early learning system where fees are capped at $10/day is more than just an affordability measure - it is the kind of nation-building reform worthy of a Prime Minister's legacy.

A universal early learning system will boost our GDP by increasing women's workforce participation.

It will enable our regions to flourish by ensuring they can attract and retain the

essential workers they need. Most importantly, it will help ensure every Australian child, regardless of their circumstances, can get the best possible start in life and live up to their full potential.

In his acceptance speech, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his party's guiding principle: no one held back, no one left behind.

This commitment finds its most powerful expression in early childhood - those critical formative years when the trajectory of a life is shaped.

The Australian people have spoken clearly. They want a government that delivers bold reforms that make a tangible difference in their lives. They've given Prime Minister Albanese the mandate, the parliamentary numbers, and endorsed his ambition to make universal childcare his legacy.

The path forward is clear: cap early learning fees at $10 per day for most families, make access free for low-income families, and cement a legacy of truly universal early childhood education in Australia.

This is the legacy our country has voted for, our society needs, and our children deserve.