Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Ministers statements: early childhood education and care

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:09): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is responding to the rapid review into child safety undertaken by Pam White PSM and Jay Weatherill AO. At the outset I want to thank them for the detailed review they undertook into child safety in early education and care and the way in which they consulted with those within the sector to inform their final report. Last week the Premier, alongside the Attorney-General and me, outlined how we would be enacting every single one of the report’s 22 recommendations, just as we said we would. This will include establishing a new nation-leading early childhood regulator that will more than double the frequency of compliance checks. This work builds on the existing actions we have already undertaken to ban personal devices being used in centres by the end of September and the establishment of a workforce register. Registration began just a few weeks ago and over 40,600 additional workers have registered, representing a large proportion of the estimated workforce. For the benefit of the house, the final report contains 22 recommendations and we have publicly released a response to each and every recommendation, including our plan to implement them. I want to take the opportunity to commend –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, could Ms Blandthorn repeat what she said about the working with children checks and how they have come into being? Because it is my understanding that there are 173 individuals that still have their working with children checks and probably should not.

The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order.

Georgie Crozier: Well, I just could not hear her properly.

The PRESIDENT: I think there was murmuring going on that may have affected everyone’s hearing. I will ask Minister Blandthorn to continue her ministers statement without any interjections.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: For the benefit of the house, the final report contains 22 recommendations and we have publicly released a response to each and every recommendation, including our plan to implement them. I take the opportunity to commend those opposite who, in a press release last week, stated:

We will provide constructive support to any measures that improve our childcare system in response to the Rapid Child Safety Review.

I take this opportunity to thank those opposite for their support to bring together regulatory bodies that hold the breadcrumbs of information into the social services regulator, ensuring that there are not missed opportunities to safeguard children through a failure to piece together information that is currently held by different separate regulatory bodies. I look forward to the introduction and speedy passage of those reforms later this year, and I thank those opposite for backing the reform. My focus is always on the safety of children, whether they be in early childhood, in disability settings, at home or in out-of-home care, and I thank those opposite for continuing to support our work to enhance our child safety system.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, could I ask that the minister table her notes so that I can read them?

Members interjecting.

Georgie Crozier: No, I need them before that. I would ask that she table her notes so I can actually see what she said. It is a simple request, and I ask that she table her notes.

The PRESIDENT: I think the minister was just reading from notes, so it is fair enough to ask, but I do not think that is going to be fulfilled. Maybe you can ask for an accelerated Hansard or something like that.

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Tom McIntosh: On a point of order, President, can I please have the comment from Ms Crozier withdrawn?

The PRESIDENT: I did not hear it. Would you like to withdraw it?

Georgie Crozier: I am happy to withdraw.