Parents could be forced to monitor the quality and safety of their kids’ childcare providers unless the industry’s fragmentation is addressed.
The federal government on Wednesday fast-tracked the introduction of a bill that could strip public funding from childcare operators that fail to meet safety standards, among other measures.
Though parent and children’s advocacy groups have welcomed the bill, there are also calls for a national early-childhood commission to ensure consistent oversight and accountability across Australia.
“Parents deserve to know that their child is safe in care,” The Parenthood chief executive Georgie Dent said.
“Without a national leader to oversee, monitor and regulate quality and safety, the onus is still on parents – many of whom have little choice around their reliance on child care.”
This national watchdog is particularly important for those outside the capital cities as one of Labor’s big second-term promises was to expand universal access to early education.
“For rural, regional and remote communities, this stewardship is absolutely critical,” said Jacqui Emery, chief executive of country children’s charity Royal Far West.
“Every Australian child, regardless of where they live, deserves access to safe, high-quality early learning.”
Labor expedited its bill and introduced it to the House of Representatives on Wednesday after a Victorian childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences involving children in early July.
State regulators can already shut a centre on the spot if there is an imminent threat to safety, but Education Minister Jason Clare said the Commonwealth should also try to lift standards through its available levers.
“We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they’re carried through the doors of an early education and care service,” he told parliament.
“Funding is the big weapon that the Australian government has to wield here.
“The real purpose of this legislation isn’t to shut centres down but to raise standards.”
Childcare operators that fail to meet quality, safety and compliance standards could be prevented from opening new centres and might be cut off from receiving government subsidies, which typically cover a large proportion of parents’ fees.
Providers would be issued with a formal notice requiring an explanation within 28 days with the Department of Education able to cancel or suspend an operator’s approval.
“Providers that can improve their services to meet the standard will get the chance to do that,” Mr Clare said.
The bill also expands commonwealth powers to publish information about providers that are sanctioned for non-compliance.
Information on centres for which childcare subsidy approvals have been suspended or cancelled can already be viewed on the department’s website.
But the legislation would also allow for information to be made public when compliance action is taken against providers, like when an infringement notice is issued.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said dealing with the safety of children in childcare was above politics.
“I can’t think of many issues in my time in this parliament that have made me feel as physically sick as this one has, and I know this feeling is shared by members across the aisle,” she told parliament.
“That these criminals have found their way into our centres and into the lives of our precious, innocent children is just appalling. So we do stand ready to continue to make sure that we get this right.”
There were still issues with sharing information on working-with-children checks between jurisdictions, Mr Clare said, and more work would be done at an upcoming meeting of state and federal attorneys-general.
State, territory and federal ministers are also expected to meet in August to discuss other changes, including mandatory CCTV in childcare centres, establishing a national worker registry and mandatory child-safety training.
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