Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Early childhood education and care

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): My question is to the Minister for Government Services. Two weeks ago the Premier said of a man who was sacked in 2020 after an investigation found he was grooming and kissing toddlers that ‘immediate steps have been taken to cancel his working with children check’. Why does this man still have an active working with children check?

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women) (14:04): We will implement all of the recommendations that have been passed down to us as quickly as possible, and we will also make sure that we get it right, because nothing is more important than the safety of children. That is at the forefront of our decisions. There is legislation before the house today around this matter, and I am not going to breach any parliamentary privilege around that.

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, the question had nothing to do with the legislation before the house. It was about an individual who still has an active working with children check after it was told to this house that it would be immediately cancelled. Why does this person still have a working with children check?

The SPEAKER: The minister will come back to the question.

Natalie HUTCHINS: As the opposition knows, the legislation requires change for that to happen. That change is before the house today.

Sam Groth: On a point of order, Speaker, on the matter of relevance, you have already directed the minister to come back to answering the question. I ask you to renew that ruling.

The SPEAKER: Minister, come back to answering the question.

Natalie HUTCHINS: I am pleased that this government has acted on the recommendations that have been passed down through the rapid review and that legislation is before the house to correct this matter.

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:06): Can the minister guarantee that this man has not worked with children in the last two weeks?

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women) (14:06): There are over 2 million people that hold working with children checks in this state, and they are subject to ongoing weekly monitoring. We have changed the regulations and put in place more of the regulators talking to that system now and reporting to that system, and there is legislation before the house right now to further improve that system.

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, it was a very, very simple question: does the minister guarantee that this person is not working with children in Victoria, or doesn’t she know? It is a simple question.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I ask you to make your points of order succinctly. The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked. The minister has concluded her answer.