Questions without notice and ministers statements
Early childhood education and care
Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:03): My question is to the Premier. In 2020 a childcare centre dismissed a male educator who had kissed and groomed toddlers, yet he continued to work in child care for four years until he was blacklisted in 2024. Despite this, he continued holding a working with children check until this morning. Why did it take an ABC report for this government to ensure this individual is not working with children in Victoria?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:03): In answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I want to be absolutely clear that the situation he has outlined, as was reported earlier today, is clearly unacceptable. It is absolutely unacceptable what has occurred here, and it further underscores the need, as I have said on a number of occasions, for the system to be strengthened. It clearly needs to be strengthened and further action needs to be taken. I have been advised, in regard to this individual, that immediate steps have been taken to cancel his working with children check. But this process has clearly outlined that there is the need for further action – action that we will be taking. I have been clear since Victoria Police first advised the public of their investigation into the most horrific allegations of abuse that we will be taking every step to strengthen child safety. That work is already underway through the working with children check, and the rapid review that will shortly be handed to government will outline further action that we will take.
Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was around why it took an ABC report to uncover something that this government has known about. This was reported back in 2020. What has the government been doing? I would ask you to ask the Premier to come back to that question.
The SPEAKER: I remind the Manager of Opposition Business that a point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked. The Premier has concluded her answer.
Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): Why did the government consider it appropriate for this individual to work with children in junior sports teams, Scouts, schools, foster care, kinship care and play facilities, amongst many other places, with unsupervised children, until a media report this morning?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:06): In answering the supplementary question from the Leader of the Opposition, I again restate what I said earlier: it is clearly unacceptable. It is not acceptable what has occurred in this instance, and it is absolutely why we are undertaking work to protect children in this state and the system does need to be strengthened. It is why there is action that has already been taken to strengthen the worker-screening unit and action that has already been taken by the Minister for Children around the registration of early childhood workers, and it is why we will take further action. I have been clear from day one that the rapid review, the work that is being undertaken right now, will outline further action that the government will be taking.
Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question. This has been known for some five years. We are not asking anything about a rapid review, we are asking whether the government considers this was appropriate for the past five years.
The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer.