Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Early childhood education and care

Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:09): My question is to the Minister for Government Services. The Attorney-General has admitted there are 173 individuals with active working with children checks who pose a risk to children. For how long has the government allowed these individuals to pose a risk to children?

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women) (14:10): Thank you for the question, but I dispute the premise of the question. I do not believe the Attorney-General said that that number of people pose a risk in her comments earlier today. However, we have been informed through the regulators that because of the changes that we have made there is a need, with some urgency, to overhaul the working with children check assessments. We have legislation before the house to be able to immediately suspend working with children checks whilst assessments for revocation are being finalised.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question. It is very narrow: for how long have these people been allowed to pose a risk to children? I would ask you to ask the minister to come back to that question, please. She is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister addressed the question at the outset. The minister was adding to that commentary.

Natalie HUTCHINS: We have strengthened the regulations to now allow the worker-screening unit to consider information from more regulators to make sure that we are identifying any adverse findings on individuals. Not all of those adverse findings, I might add, are of a sexual predator nature, which is being assumed here, and we have accepted all 22 recommendations of the independent rapid child review. We have boosted the system. We have boosted it with finances, but most importantly we have boosted it with the legislation that is before the house today, with more to come into the future.

Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:12): How many of these 173 individuals who pose a risk to children are working with children today?

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women) (14:12): Thank you for the question. I think it is worth recalling the fact that all people applying for a working with children check clearance will be required to undertake online mandatory training as part of the stepping up of services that this government has accepted through the rapid review.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order on relevance, Speaker, it was a very narrow question.

The SPEAKER: Minister, come back to the question.

Natalie HUTCHINS: I think those opposite know what the legislation before the house today will allow the government to be able to change, and we look forward to their support for that legislation going through this house so that we can take immediate action in this space.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, again the minister is debating the question. We are not asking about anything related to the legislation before the house. It is specific to the 173 people.

The SPEAKER: The minister has concluded her answer.