Labor vows to introduce new childcare laws when parliament returns
The pledge came after detectives arrested and charged a 26-year-old man in relation to allegations of child sexual abuse at a Melbourne childcare centre.
He was a worker at the centre and had a working with children check (WWCC).
Mr Clare said on Thursday that if the allegations were proven true, then 'the system has failed these families'.
'It has taken too long for governments to act,' he told Seven's Sunrise.
'This is sickening and it demands serious action. We've already taken action around mobile phones in childcare centres and mandatory reporting.
'But there's more that we have to do – there's a lot more we have to do.'
Mr Clare said he would not hesitate to 'cut off' federal funds to childcare centres that failed to keep children safe.
'Parliament returns later this month – I'll introduce a piece of legislation in the (first) fortnight that will cut funding to childcare centres that aren't up to scratch when it comes to safety of the children,' he said.
'The big weapon that the federal government has to wield here is the funding that we provide to childcare centres.
'It equates to about 70 per cent of the funding that runs a centre and if they're not keeping our kids safe, then we need to cut off their funding.'
He added there needed 'to be consequences'.
Police in Victoria earlier this week arrested and charged Joshua Dale Brown with more than 70 offences, including child rape and possession of child abuse material.
On Wednesday, police charged a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, with offences relating to child abuse material.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
'Walking on a Dream' ad campaign spruiking WA tourism outsourced to east-coast company
A taxpayer-funded ad campaign spruiking Western Australia to tourists is being led by an east-coast production company, in a move the premier has called 'disappointing" and urged the decision to be reconsidered. Tourism WA is working on the next phase of its 'Walking On A Dream' campaign, which hopes to sell the state as a "premium holiday destination" to travellers across Australia and the world. A state government spokesperson said while local company The Brand Agency had been chosen to "lead development and production" for the next stage of the campaign, an east coast-based director and production company would be used for part of the work. The spokesperson said the agency assessed more than 50 suppliers, including ones from WA, for their experience, timeframes and ability to "deliver value for money" for the taxpayer-funded campaign. "Unfortunately, while a local production company and director were shortlisted, the cost identified was prohibitively higher than the chosen option," the spokesperson told ABC Radio Perth. They explained the shoot will use at least 70 per cent West Australian crew members and showcase a number of WA tourism operators. Premier Roger Cook said it was a "pretty disappointing" result. "We know that in WA we've got some great production crews and I'm sure that work could have been undertaken in Western Australia," he said. "I would just invite them [The Brand Agency] to reflect on the fact WA has great production, great people working in the creative industries. Deputy Liberal leader Libby Mettam said the government needed to listen to its own 'Made in WA' message — a tagline it is using to sell efforts to diversify the state's economy. "Western Australians have the expertise and the know-how and capability to deliver this campaign and it's extraordinary hypocrisy that the Cook Labor government are not employing our own experts to deliver this campaign," she said. The premier responded: "We want Made in WA to be a reality." "It would've been good if they could've just made sure that they were part of that," he said of The Brand Agency. In budget estimates, Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk had said the government was "proud of the work" it had been doing to grow the local screen industry. "Both building the new studios which are expected to be completed by early next year, but also making sure that we do everything we can so that West Australian talent is fostered," she said. Ms McGurk highlighted a $5 million targeted industry capacity-building program, to address "urgent small infrastructure and capacity needs" of WA businesses, and incentives offered to productions which spend a minimum amount in WA. "While there won't be a mandated component for local content, actually making sure that there are opportunities for West Australians and West Australian companies is very much at the core of the screen industry strategy," she said. The Brand Agency has been contacted for comment.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
One in 10 Australian childcare centres not meeting regulator standards
One in 10 early education centres do not entirely meet federal regulation standards as Education Minister Jason Clare admits childcare reforms have taken 'too bloody long' and pledged to speed up changes in the sector. Clare's comments came after a Melbourne childcare worker was charged with more than 70 counts of child abuse on Tuesday. A second man, known to the first, was charged with dozens of sex crimes on Wednesday as part of a major investigation in Victoria that has caused national fury and cast a spotlight on how early childhood education centres operate after a 2017 royal commission recommended sweeping reforms. 'The implementation of those reforms has taken too bloody long. They need to be accelerated,' Clare told Seven's Sunrise on Thursday. 'That's why I said we need to implement a register of educators in childcare centres. It's why we need to fix the working with children checks. That's work that is led by attorneys general, but needs to be sped up.' The latest data, from 2023-24, showed 1599 centres, or about 10 per cent, are classed as 'working towards' meeting regulator standards. The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority, which assesses centres against national quality standards, found 68 per cent of centres met standards and 22 per cent exceeded them. The authority says a centre being classed as 'working towards' meeting standards means it 'provides a safe education and care program, but there are one or more areas identified for improvement'. The criteria to pass quality standards include a certain level in education programs, children's health and safety, physical environments, staffing arrangements, relationships with children, relationships with families and communities, and leadership. Early education and care advocate Lisa Bryant told The Morning Edition podcast on Thursday that a big problem with the sector's quality is high staff turnover, casualisation and private owners being driven by profit over child safety.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
SA looks to fast-track childcare mobile phone ban after allegations of abuse in Victoria
The South Australian government is investigating whether it can expedite a ban on mobile phones in childcare centres, following allegations of child abuse material being produced at a Victorian childcare centre. The personal electronic device ban is due to come into force nationally in September, but the state government said on Thursday it was investigating whether the ban could be "brought forward even sooner". Education Minister Blair Boyer has also asked for "urgent advice" on installing CCTV in early childhood education centres (ECEC), adopting a register of educators, and strengthening the capacity of the regulator to notify families when issues arise. "I note the immediate actions relating to child safety announced by Victoria today, in light of the serious charges laid against a childcare worker," he wrote to chief executives of SA's Office for Early Childhood Development and Education Standards Board. It comes after Victorian police charged a childcare worker with more than 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims at a centre in Melbourne's south-west. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is also looking to bring forward a ban on mobile phones in childcare centres in that state. South Australian Attorney-General Kyam Maher said Mr Boyer had been working towards the ban in childcare centres for "some time" and was now seeking to have it brought forward. "Not having individual electronic devices that can record footage means film can't be made that can be passed on," he said. "It's a pretty self-explanatory thing that's being sought to be curtailed or banned." Mr Maher said the government was "keen to examine" any suggestions put forward that improved child safety, following the allegations in Victoria. "I think everyone was shocked, sickened and horrified," he said. Meanwhile, child sex offenders have been banned from working alongside child employees in South Australia. The legislation came into effect at the start of July, after passing state parliament last year. It applies to registered child sex offenders or those who have been charged with registrable child sex offences but not yet convicted. The SA government said previous laws only restricted child sex offenders in settings where children were the subject of the work, such as childcare. Mr Maher said the penalty for breaching the law was up to five years in jail. "SAPOL have now written to all of those who are registered to let them know of this change in the law," he said.
