Last year in this place I spoke about the consequences of a decision made 30 years ago: the privatisation of government school cleaning services. I shared the stories of local school cleaners from Leppington and surrounds who worked for decades in underpaid, undervalued and unsafe conditions. Since the early 1990s, cleaning in public schools has been outsourced to private contractors. What followed was what we have seen time and again with the failed ideology of privatisation: cuts to quality, loss of accountability and the erosion of workers' rights. When the government cleaning service was dismantled, 7,500 public sector jobs, many held by middle-aged and migrant women, were lost. Cleaners were pushed into insecure and poorly paid roles, and schools were stripped of a vital, trusted part of their community fabric. In Leppington, I heard from cleaners who were asked to cover the workload of five people, with outdated equipment and minimal supplies. One cleaner told me that she had to wait three months for a mop. Another used winter gear through summer because she did not have the summer uniform.

The buffers used to clean school floors dated back to the early '90s—prior to privatisation—and were older than most of the students. Cleaners told me they were expected to complete more than 600 tasks a day. Many suffered serious injuries like fractured knees, broken wrists and strained backs. Some brought their own equipment, only to be reprimanded for doing so. They all faced job insecurity every time a contract went out to tender. More than half were not being paid correctly, and a third reported bullying or discrimination. It was, and it remains, unacceptable. However, this year I speak not just with frustration but also with optimism. I commend the Minns Labor Government for listening, acting and beginning to right that wrong.

Earlier this year, the Government accepted the findings of the parliamentary review into school cleaning, led by my colleague the member for Campbelltown. The review made it clear that the privatisation of school cleaning had failed miserably. It failed cleaners, schools and taxpayers. The Government has now committed to returning school cleaning to public hands. That decision is not about nostalgia; it is about fairness, respect and doing what works. From next year, approximately 600 contracted cleaners in the Hunter and the Central Coast will be directly employed by the Department of Education for the first time in three decades. The trial—the first step in bringing school cleaning back in‑house—is a major milestone. It follows extensive consultation with parents, students, principals and P&C groups.

A statewide survey revealed the extent of the problem: filthy toilets, unsafe cleaning conditions and unrealistic workloads. Cleaners are not invisible; they are essential. They keep our schools safe, hygienic and functioning. They are often the first to arrive and the last to leave. During the COVID pandemic, we were reminded of just how critical their work is. Yet, for too long their roles were treated as disposable. Bringing cleaning back in house is not a radical idea. In fact, we are playing catch‑up. Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania never privatised their school cleaners. The Australian Capital Territory has already brought its cleaners back in house, and Victoria is well on its way to doing the same.

This is not about ideology; it is about practicality and decency. A public cleaning service gives schools more flexibility and responsiveness. It gives workers job security and proper pay. It also ensures accountability for the standards of hygiene and safety in our schools. No more playing contractor roulette every few years when a contract is up for renewal. No more deferring maintenance because it is not in scope. No more treating cleaners as outsiders in the communities they have lived in and served for decades.

I thank the United Workers Union for its tireless advocacy on this issue over many years. I especially thank the cleaners from my electorate who bravely came forward to share their experiences with me and with the review. Their stories mattered. They were heard, and change is happening because of their voices. The Minns Government's decision to bring school cleaning back in house is not just a policy win; it is also a values win. It reflects what the Labor Government stands for: secure jobs, strong public services, fairness for working people and an end to the privatisation agenda of the previous Government. The work continues, but this is a significant step forward. It is a step towards dignity, equity and common sense in how we care for our public schools and for the people who care for them.