Labor is open to increasing the number of childcare workers who will get a pay rise under its $10 billion plan if it turns out some have fallen through the gaps of its calculations.
But that could mean everyone in the sector gets a smaller increase than the party now proposes.
"What we have budgeted for is for early childhood educators who work in childcare centres who are not qualified kindergarten teachers," Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.
"If there are some more, we have an envelope of funding and we'll work that through."
The Labor costings document released on Friday says the pay increase will be 20 per cent over eight years, lifting wages by an estimated $11,300 per worker.
The total figure over 10 years to 2029/30 will be $9.967 billion.
But the government says Labor appears to have underestimated the cost of the pay rise, claiming there are 195,000 childcare workers not the 100,000 budgeted for.
However, Labor says its policy covers all early childhood educators with Certificate III and above qualifications - including bachelor degrees - who work in private long day care centres.
It says state and local government providers have their own workplace agreements and so wouldn't be covered.
Mr Shorten was dismissive of the government's counter attack.
"Really, is this what the government's spinners are trying to get you to do, to say that because we've got funding to get early childhood educators, at least qualified ones, a leg up, that somehow this is a bad policy?" he said.
"Do any of you think the government is going to spend one cent on early childhood educators? We'll work this through."
Share
