Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Early childhood education and care

Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:09): My question is to the Attorney-General. Last night, when asked if the government’s working with children check bill closes the loophole identified by the Ombudsman in 2022, the minister in the other place said ‘today’s bill will not close that loophole’. After three years of inaction, why did the government not close these dangerous loopholes continuing to put children at risk?

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:10): I thank the member for her question. What you have seen from this side of the house is immediate action to put the safety of children front and centre and to make immediate changes to working with children to ensure that child safety is put first. For many weeks now I have sat back here and watched those on the other side politicise every aspect of this matter.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, the Attorney-General is debating the question. This is about the Ombudsman’s report three years ago.

The SPEAKER: The Attorney has been on her feet for only a short time. I will give her an opportunity to come back to the question.

Sonya KILKENNY: For several weeks now we have undertaken significant work to bring legislation into this Parliament at the first opportunity. That legislation immediately strengthens our working with children check, and I am so pleased that it received the unanimous support of all parties in this place to pass the Parliament last night – as it should do, because all of us in this place must be united in putting community safety and the safety of our children first and foremost. The legislation that passed this place yesterday is the first step in an overhaul of the child safety system, an overhaul that is being led by the recommendations of experts. It is experts that we will listen to to strengthen –

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this is about closing a loophole, and the Attorney-General is going nowhere near that. I would ask you to ask the Attorney-General to come back to that.

The SPEAKER: The Attorney was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Sonya KILKENNY: As I said, this legislation is a first step in an overhaul of the child safety system that puts the protection and safety of children front and centre. Yesterday’s legislation takes immediate steps to ensure that people who hold a working with children check who are under reassessment will be suspended immediately. That is a significant first step. As well, as you heard from the Minister for Government Services, the legislation will ensure that if you are banned in any state or territory in this country you will automatically be banned from working with children in Victoria. That is a commitment that was made by all attorneys-general just 10 days ago, and here we are having already introduced and passed legislation that gives effect to a commitment made 10 days ago. I would say that is pretty fast and immediate action. But as I have said, this is a first step in ensuring that we overhaul our child safety system.

Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:13): When the minister in the other place was asked if an individual who is under police investigation for child sexual abuse who has not had a formal charge, conviction or formal disciplinary finding can still hold an active working with children check and engage with children, the minister said those changes ‘are not included in this bill’. How many of the 173 individuals the Attorney-General identified yesterday are under police investigation for child sexual abuse?

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:14): As I said yesterday, we introduced and passed legislation that will ensure that any person whose working with children check is under reassessment will have that check suspended immediately. Yesterday there were 173 people in that category – that is point in time. When this legislation takes effect – following royal assent today, it takes effect tomorrow – there will be suspension of every single person who is holding a working with children check that is currently under reassessment. That suspension will take effect immediately. That is the very point of the legislation that we passed yesterday with the support, I might say, of every single member in this house, as it should be, putting child safety front and centre.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, it is: how many of the 173 individuals are under police investigation?

The SPEAKER: The Attorney was being relevant to the question. The Attorney has concluded her answer.