Jess Walsh

Latest speeches

1. Senate Chamber (part 2 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 17 September 2026

   • Early childhood education: 15% pay rise and sector stability

     “Thank you, President, and thank you, Senator Sheldon, for your question and for always standing up for women workers and for all workers. On Tuesday the Parliament locked in our historic 15% pay rise for early educators because on this…”

     Watch from 35:12

2. Senate Chamber (part 3 of 3) · Australian Parliament · 16 September 2026

   • Ministerial tabling and AI committee ballot announcement

     “Thank you, Acting Deputy President. I table documents relating to orders for the production of documents concerning the Defence Reform Study and the Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program.”

     Watch from 13:22

   • Ministerial tabling and AI committee ballot announcement

     “Minister. I move that this bill be now read a second time and I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. I move that the debate be now adjourned.”

     Watch from 14:57

   • Knox Class Action Facilitation Bill and student ombudsman levy bills introduced

     “I move that these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. I move that these bills be now read a second time and I seek leave to have the second reading…”

     Watch from 15:45
   1 more clip in this sitting

3. Senate Chamber (part 2 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 14 September 2026

   • Committee stage: Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers bill

     “Uh, thank you Senator O'Sullivan. The government, um, announced, uh, when we announced the extension of the worker retention payment, uh, that we would be extending the payment to employees in in-home care, uh, and in family day care, uh,…”

     Watch from 2:51:46

   • Committee stage: Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers bill

     “Uh, thank you, Senator O'Sullivan. So, um, I'm advised that, um, the best way to, um, get, um, further information about the numbers that you're, um, interested in is to consider, um, the entire pool of early educators, uh, which…”

     Watch from 2:59:29

   • Committee stage: Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers bill

     “Thank you, Senator. We value the children and families who are supported by in-home care and family day care. I was really pleased to meet a little girl called Cece and her mum Jen in regional New South Wales recently…”

     Watch from 3:09:56
   3 more clips in this sitting

4. Senate Chamber (part 1 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 14 September 2026

   • Divisions on Greens and Coalition amendments; second reading agreed

     “Thank you very much, Acting Deputy President. Well, the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers Special Account (Extending Support and Strengthening Safety) Bill 2026 locks in this government's commitment to a historic 15% pay rise for our…”

     Watch from 3:14:56

   • Question Time: early learning infrastructure rollout

     “Thank you, President. Thank you, Senator Whitaker, for your question and for your belief that every child deserves access to quality early learning and every child deserves a great start in life. But too many families don't have the option…”

     Watch from 5:10:38

5. Senate Chamber (part 2 of 3) · Australian Parliament · 9 September 2026

   • Question Time – Grogan/Walsh: early learning workforce, free TAFE and pay rise

     “Thank you, Senator Grogan, for your question on National TAFE Day. Free TAFE changes lives, free TAFE brings opportunity, and free TAFE is building the quality early learning workforce that Australian children deserve. When we came to office, the early…”

     Watch from 1:07:40

6. Senate Chamber (part 1 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 8 September 2026

   • Workplace laws and penalty rates: Walsh answers

     “I thank you, Senator Delega, Minister Walsh. Thank you, President. Thank you, Senator Delega, for the question. And I know you have spent your working life fighting for Australian workers, and I know that this is a really important issue…”

     Watch from 2:33:53

   • CFMEU slush funds and Setka: Kovacic vs Walsh

     “Ah, thank you President, and thank you Senator Kovacic for the question. Ah, and of course our government does not tolerate any corruption, criminality or violence in any part of the construction industry. Ah, and I hear the interjections already…”

     Watch from 3:03:04

   • CFMEU slush funds and Setka: Kovacic vs Walsh

     “Ah, thank you, Senator Kovacic. Minister Walsh. Ah, thank you, President. Thank you, Senator Kovacic. Well, the reason that there is an administrator in place today is because of our government, Senator Kovacic. Again, we do not tolerate any corruption…”

     Watch from 3:06:50
   1 more clip in this sitting