Thursday, 14 August 2025

Early childhood education and care

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:08): (1007) My question is again to the Minister for Children. Minister, the terms of reference for the government’s so-called rapid review explicitly exclude reviewing:

… the performance or governance of the Victorian Regulatory Authority.

Minister, given the government has excluded the performance of the regulator from its review, how can Victorian families have any confidence in the review’s findings and recommendations?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:09): Ms Crozier has previously asked me this same question, but I welcome the opportunity to again correct the record, because it is not true – the scaremongering of those opposite, the disingenuous activity of those opposite, what they are trying to suggest. If we look at the scope of the review, continuously the opposition continue to take out of –

Members interjecting.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Sorry, President, I cannot hear myself think when I am constantly receiving such interjections.

The PRESIDENT: The minister to continue.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: If we look at the terms of reference for the review, it refers to the fact that:

There are ongoing investigations into alleged incidents at Victorian early childhood education and care settings. The Review will not take any actions that could prejudice live Victoria Police investigations, criminal or civil proceedings, or any investigation underway by Victorian Regulatory authorities.

In the drafting of these terms of reference the government was absolutely clear that we did not – and I am sure, or I would at least hope, those opposite would not – in any way want to impede the current investigations, particularly in relation to the sickening incidents that relate to the accused that were publicised earlier in the month. But I would also point them to term number 2 of the terms of reference:

identify options to improve interactions between regulatory schemes, including information sharing between regulators and agencies, both within Victoria and across jurisdictions.

It is absolutely clear – I have made it clear in this place; the government has made it clear to the review – that we expect them to look at the regulatory framework, look at the way in which the regulatory framework interacts across the state and provide the government with recommendations accordingly. That is my expectation and it is the government’s expectation, and the disingenuous activity of those opposite just goes to undermining child safety in this state.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:11): I will tell you who is disingenuous, Minister, and what is out of scope:

2. The review will highlight priorities to support regulatory activity and reform and is not intended to be a review of the performance or governance of the Victorian Regulatory Authority.

So I ask, Minister: given the failings of the government’s childcare regulator to keep children safe, will the minister commit to establishing a new independent statutory watchdog to oversee and enforce compliance in Victoria’s childcare centres? I hope that you are more forthcoming in your answer than you were previously.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:11): I would again point out to the house and to the opposition that it is completely disingenuous to read number 2 in isolation from number 1. Number 1 is about not impeding investigations that might be on foot that go to –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, would the minister like me to re-read that? Because it is pretty explicit, President. So she is actually misleading the house.

Members interjecting.

Katherine Copsey: On a point of order, President, you warned members earlier today about interjections being disorderly, and I am finding that your advice has not been heeded so far.

The PRESIDENT: I would really appreciate it if my advice was always embraced. I uphold your point of order. Can the minister be heard in silence. And, Ms Crozier, that was not a point of order.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: I would urge those opposite to not be so disingenuous as to read number 2 without reading number 1, and I would simply say that we look forward to receiving the recommendations of the review.

David Davis: I move that the minister’s answer be taken into account on the next day of meeting to the extent that it deals with term of reference 2.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, could you put the question without the qualifications.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:13): I move:

That the minister’s answer be taken into account on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.