Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Early childhood education and care

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (15:18): In question time today we had a minister who failed to be responsible for the people of Victoria. In the government’s own site, it says:

The Minister for Children oversees Victoria’s early childhood education and care system …

It goes on to say:

The minister is also responsible for driving improvements to Victoria’s child protection and family services system …

amongst other things. Now, in question time today I asked a series of questions which were not answered by the minister. Shamefully, the government and others did not agree with the questions.

David Davis: That’s right – a shameful cover-up.

Georgie CROZIER: It was a cover-up, Mr Davis, because we have been asking about the working with children checks that apply to applicants who are banned from child-related work, including in early education. One question I asked is:

… as Minister for Children what did you do to follow up on this serious bungle that was first identified in 2022?

And:

… were any of those 69 applicants found to be working in early childhood centres?

Other questions I asked were around why the government failed to respond to the recommendation made by the Ombudsman in 2022 regarding the working with children checks, which impacts the early education system, and why was keeping children safe not a priority of government? Now, she refused to answer every single one of those questions. There was a protection racket in this house. I think it is shameful, and I expect her to answer questions when she is next asked them.