Wednesday, 30 July 2025

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. A training student at one of the childcare centres where alleged abuser Joshua Brown worked reported there were concerns to the regulator. Afterwards they said that:

I feel sick … The department never followed up and when they called me they turned it around on me and asked why I didn’t do anything.

Premier, what action did the Victorian government regulator take following this complaint?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:04): In thanking the Leader of the Opposition for his question, I wish to reiterate what I said to the house yesterday and have said previously: that the horrific allegations that we have seen reported by Victoria Police and are now being investigated have shocked and sickened all of us. I think it is important that we let Victoria Police do their important work. Building on that, we are taking further action that does involve the urgent review that is being undertaken, where, as I have said, if further changes need to be made, we will –

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, the Premier is required to be direct and relevant. This is about the action the Victorian government department took in relation to a complaint, not in relation to a prospective review.

Mary-Anne Thomas: Deputy Speaker, on the point of order, there is no point of order. The Premier has been on her feet for just over 40 seconds. She is being directly responsive to the question. I ask that you rule the point of order out of order and let the Premier get on with answering the question.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. The Premier was referring to actions being taken.

Jacinta ALLAN: And on that point of taking action, I have been clear that if there is further action and further change that need to be made then we stand ready to make them to keep children safe. The question from the Leader of the Opposition went to –

Brad Battin interjected.

Jacinta ALLAN: Do you want me to answer your question?

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, I know the Premier is outlining the things that they want to do in the future, including a review. This question, in relation to relevance, was very specific on what action was taken. If no action was taken, the Premier should admit that and just sit down.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I cannot instruct the Premier or ministers how to answer the question. The Premier was being relevant to the question asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: The question from the Leader of the Opposition, as I have understood the question, went to allegations that were made to the regulator. The question did not detail the substance of those allegations, and I think it is important that we do not present assumptions about allegations that may interfere with the work of Victoria Police in bringing justice for the families that are affected by these allegations of shocking abuse. Secondly, on the question asked by the Leader of the Opposition –

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, on relevance, the complaint was made to the Department of Education, and I would ask you to ask the Premier to be relevant to the very narrow question.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Premier is being relevant to answering the question as before. The Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Again, in answering the second part of the question, I will go back to what I have said. I think it is important to remember that there may be many different matters brought before the authority responsible for the regulation of early childhood settings. There may be many different cases that are brought to that independent regulator, so it is important that we should not make assumptions. Secondly, too, in answering the question about the action taken, the regulator is empowered to take its actions as it sees fit in response to the evidence and the information that is presented to it. Again, as members of Parliament, we should not be cutting across the actions of those independent regulators. In terms of future work, I will say it again: it is clear that the system does need to be strengthened, and if changes need to be made they will be made to keep children safe.

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:08): Premier, how can parents trust the government when whistleblowers are gaslit and treated as the problem while the regulator tasked with keeping children safe fails to take action?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:08): Again, I think it is important and incumbent upon all of us who have the opportunity to make public commentary and use platforms like the Parliament to address this serious issue to do so in a way that is factual, is based on evidence and does not cause further concern, because I understand that parents are concerned. I am concerned, which is why I have taken the urgent action that I have taken. There may be many reasons why a matter has been referred to the regulator for early childhood settings. We should not be casting assumptions, particularly when those assumptions are cast in the context of the horrific allegations that Victoria Police are investigating.