After a new, shocking case of child abuse was revealed today in New South Wales, the Coalition is urging the Albanese Government to act quickly with the states and territories to adopt measures that will make a real difference in stopping perpetrators before they make it to early learning centres.
The Coalition supported the passage of Federal measures today to limit the dispensing of funds to centres that are not meeting safety standards. Now, the Coalition is urging the Commonwealth Government to:
- Establish a national approach to Working with Children Checks
- Establish a national register of workers, and
- Implement a personal mobile phone ban for child care workers
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Learning, Senator Jonno Duniam, said that we cannot wait to enforce these changes.
“We have all been sickened by what has been revealed today in New South Wales and recently in Victoria.”
“We want the Government to act urgently to work with the states and territories to put in place measures that will make a real difference in stopping perpetrators working in child care centres and stop the abhorrent behaviour that has been reported on recently,” Senator Duniam said.
“The Working with Children Check system is totally flawed. Each state has different standards and people that pose risks may be accredited. The Federal Government can and must work with their state and territory counterparts to establish a national approach to Working with Children Checks at their upcoming meeting of Attorneys-General to standardise Checks. It cannot wait.”
“Likewise, establishing a national register of early childhood workers is a no-brainer. National registers already exist in many sectors. Why one hasn’t been implemented yet is a question many Australians are asking themselves.”
Shadow Assistant Minister for Education and Early Learning, Zoe McKenzie MP, says that what matters now are the next steps the Government on further measures to protect children.
“What we need to see out of the next Education Ministers Meeting is real action. On top of a national approach to Working with Children Checks and a national register of workers, the government must urge the states and territories to make the National Model Code for device use mandatory, not voluntary, which will effectively ban personal mobile phone use by child care workers.”
“We want the government to act with haste. There can be no more delays. In October, it will be two years since the Education Ministers Meeting were briefed by ACECQA on the Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework.”
“Our dedicated child care workforce are some of the most cherished, and we thank them for the work they do every day to nurture and protect our children. We want to see confidence restored into this sector, and these measures will go a long way into doing this.”