Early childhood safety
Dr BACH (Eastern Metropolitan) (11:47): My question is also to the Minister for Early Childhood. Minister, on 17 May, as I am sure you are aware, a two-year-old escaped from the Nido Early School in Werribee just after 9.30 in the morning. This is the second time that a toddler has escaped from this facility in six months. Minister, when will the investigation be complete, and will the report be released to the public at that time?
Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (11:47): I thank Dr Bach for his important question. The health and safety and wellbeing of children in early childhood education and care in Victoria are a top priority for me and for the government. The Department of Education and Training, as you would be aware, are the regulator when it comes to investigating any issue that is of a serious nature like this, where the health and safety and wellbeing of children have been in jeopardy. In terms of the particular circumstances that you have raised, the Secretary of the Department of Education and Training is the regulator under the national laws. It would not really be appropriate for me to comment on the specifics of this particular investigation, but what I can say is that the quality assessment and regulation division, which is the regulator within the Department of Education and Training, will not hesitate to take very strong action where there has been a breach of the national safety laws. That investigation is ongoing at the moment, Dr Bach, and in due course the outcome of that investigation will be made available publicly. I am absolutely confident that, as their track record shows, QARD will not hesitate to take very strong action, including sanctions against providers and, if necessary, penalties around their licence if that is warranted. But the actual investigation process is undertaken through that division of the department.
Dr BACH (Eastern Metropolitan) (11:49): Thank you, Minister, for your response. Following on from your most recent comments about, as you said, what may be the outcomes of this report, will you commit the government to implementing any recommendations from that investigation?
Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (11:50): Perhaps I can try and be a little clearer, Dr Bach. QARD is the division within the department that are responsible for upholding the regulations and the national law in respect to child safety. Those decisions are made, as absolutely is appropriate, at arm’s length from the government, so they will undertake an investigation and determine whether or not charges ought to be taken out. That will then be subject to the judicial process, which of course is not appropriate for me to comment on as the minister. But I can assure the house that QARD have got a very strong history of making sure that children in our state are safe and that any provider that is found wanting is dealt with appropriately under the legislation.