1. This Conference Notes: 

- The high cost of early childhood education and care remains a significant barrier to workforce participation, particularly for women, who are often primary caregivers. 

- Low pay and lack of professional recognition has forced early childhood educators and carers to leave the sector, resulting in a workforce crisis where providers cannot meet current enrolment demand

- Research shows that access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education and care has long-term benefits for children's development and can contribute to closing the gender pay gap. 

- Various countries have successfully implemented free or highly subsidized early childhood education and care systems, resulting in higher workforce participation rates and improved gender equality. 

- The current patchwork of subsidies and support systems in Australia can be confusing and insufficient for many families, leaving gaps in access and affordability. 

- The economic benefits of increased workforce participation and gender equality far outweigh the costs of providing free early childhood education and care. 

2. The Issue/Problem This Motion Seeks to Address / 3. This Conference Believes: 

- Ensuring access to free early childhood education and care is essential for promoting gender equality, supporting families, and boosting the economy. 

- A coordinated approach between state and federal governments is necessary to implement a comprehensive free early childhood education and care system. 

- Free early childhood education and care would enable more parents, especially women, to participate fully in the workforce, thus contributing to economic growth and reducing gender disparities. 

- High-quality early childhood education and care is a fundamental right for all children and should be accessible without financial barriers.

4. This Conference Resolves: 

- To advocate for the implementation of a completely free early childhood education and care system across Australia, ensuring that every family has access to high-quality early childhood education and care. 

- To work with federal counterparts to develop and fund a nationwide free early childhood education and care program, leveraging both state and federal resources. 

- To establish clear guidelines and standards for the provision of free early childhood education and care to ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility across all jurisdictions. 

- To conduct a comprehensive review of current early childhood education and care funding mechanisms and reallocate resources to support the implementation of free early childhood education and care. 

- To engage with stakeholders, including early childhood education and care providers, educators and their unions, parents, and advocacy groups, to build a broad coalition of support for free early childhood education and care.

5. This Conference Mandates: 

- The ACT Government to coordinate with federal and state Labor counterparts to develop a unified strategy for implementing free early childhood education and care, including funding models and legislative frameworks. 

- The establishment of a task force to oversee the transition to free early childhood education and care, ensuring a smooth and effective rollout across all regions. 

-  Regular reporting to the party and other stakeholders on the progress of the free early childhood education and care initiative, ensuring transparency and accountability.

- Engagement with sector unions, early childhood education and care providers, and community organizations to gather input and support for the free early childhood education and care policy. 

- The organization of educational workshops and seminars to raise awareness about the benefits of free early childhood education and care and to provide information on the implementation process. 

- The development of a public campaign to advocate for free early childhood education and care, highlighting its economic, social, and developmental benefits for families and society.