Wednesday, 13 August 2025

Early childhood education and care

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:03): (998) My question is to the Minister for Children. Minister, today the ABC has reported that a male educator kissed and groomed toddlers and was consequently prohibited from working in a childcare centre. It was also reported that this individual retained a working with children check. Minister, do you accept this tragic failure is indicative of the siloed approach to child safety adopted by your government and that your government systems do not adequately protect children in child care or early childhood education?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:04): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. Indeed in one sense she answered it herself by pointing out that the worker concerned was prohibited from working in an early education setting, as reported in the press. I will not go to individual matters, because that is not something that should in that sense be discussed, but what I will say is once a worker is prohibited they are breaking the national law if they work in an early education setting. To the other element of Ms Crozier’s question in relation to the working with children check, as I have said here before, they are matters for the Attorney-General. Indeed the recent changes that she has made to the Worker Screening Act will address some of those issues and can then take into account the prohibition notice in the issuing of a working with children check. But I would leave that to the Attorney to discuss.

We have announced a rapid review into the working with children check and child safety in early education and care settings, and indeed one of the things that I have publicly said on the record – and I said it again this morning on the record – is that I am absolutely interested in ways in which –

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Would Ms Crozier like an answer to the question or not? I am endeavouring to answer Ms Crozier’s question, and as I have said this morning and I will say again now, I absolutely think that there is a role for the working with children check and the other regulatory authorities that work with vulnerable children, whether there is definite –

Members interjecting.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Sorry, I cannot actually hear myself think because of the interjections opposite. If they are interested in an answer, I would ask that they give me the due courtesy of listening to it. As I am trying to indicate, we have announced a rapid review which indeed will specifically, as a term of reference, look at the way in which regulatory authorities talk to each other and ensure that the appropriate considerations are made when ensuring that those who are working with our children are indeed safe to do so. But I will at the outset make it very clear that when a worker is prohibited from working in an early education setting, then they are breaking the national law to do so.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:06): That was a good deflection or a good try by the minister to deflect over here. I think the interjections were very pertinent, because it was prohibited four years ago. My supplementary is: can you rule out that that individual worked with a working children check in an early childhood centre or anywhere else with children in Victoria?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:06): I thank Ms Crozier for her question, and as I indicated, I will not talk to individual circumstances. Indeed in doing so I would be speaking outside of the confines of what the national law allows us to speak about when it comes to the prohibition of workers. But what I will make clear is that if a worker is prohibited from working in an early education setting, then they are breaking the national law to work in an early education setting.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, it is my understanding that this individual was blacklisted from working in child care in 2024. He was sacked in 2020. So, Minister, are you across the detail of your own responsibilities?

The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order. You do not get another question too.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: As I have indicated, I will not speak to individual circumstances in this house, but what I will say is that where a worker is prohibited, they are prohibited from working in an early education setting and they would be breaking the national law to do so. What I have also said, which relates back to Ms Crozier’s substantive question, is that the rapid review is looking at ways in which we can ensure that regulatory authorities, and indeed other bodies that might hold information about the safety of people to work with children, can talk to each other better so that we can keep children safe wherever they are.