Childcare payrises are scrapped as focus shifts to training in the sector Assistant Education Minister Sussan Ley. ABOUT half of the pay rises promised to almost 25,000 childcare workers have been scrapped as part of an Abbott government overhaul of a $300 million fund for wage increases to instead focus on training in the sector. Amid claims from Labor and unions of a broken election promise, Assistant Education Minister Sussan Ley said the government would honour contracts already signed with 16 operators, worth $62.5 million in the first year and covering about 13,000 workers. But she said she would invite those operators to "do the right thing," forfeit the hourly pay rises of between $3 and $6 and put the money into a new training program. Ms Ley said the new policy to target professional development opportunities would improve access to childcare and the new fund would look after all educators, not just some. "Of course I feel for workers who have expected a pay rise, but who led them to expect that pay rise?" she said. An independent report found the Early Years Quality Fund for wage rises was unfair and was used to boost union membership numbers. Leading provider Goodstart Early Learning said the government had broken its promise to honour contracts.