Jason Clare also introduced Labor’s bill to tackle some of the issues with childcare workers and children safety, given some of the cases we have seen lately. The bill’s main point is that it will strip government funding from ‘unsafe’ centres.

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese watches the Education Minister Jason Clare bills in the house of representatives (photo by Mike Bowers for The New Daily)

Georgie Dent from advocacy group The Parenthood says the government should be looking at creating an “independent national body to oversee early childhood education and care” as the “most effective way for the government to ensure children are safe”.  

Dent:

Right now, there is no national body to ensure that every single early learning centre across Australia is providing safe and high-quality education and care. Nor is there a single source of truth for parents to turn to in such distressing times. 

We need national coordination on everything from processes for hiring new staff, educator training and background checks, to body safety protocol and government funding arrangements. All levels of government need to work together and provide adequate resourcing to the regulatory bodies in the system. 

That’s what an Independent National Early Childhood Commission – as was recommended by the Productivity Commission last year – could have the power to achieve. 

Parents shouldn’t have to worry about the quality and safety of centres. At the absolute baseline, parents deserve to know that their child is safe in care. But without a national leader to oversee, monitor and regulate quality and safety, the onus is still on parents, many of whom have little choice around their reliance on childcare. 

Ahead of this year’s Federal Election, the Prime Minister said that he wanted universal early childhood education and care to be his legacy. 

The Federal Government has already taken steps towards a universal system with their accessibility and affordability measures, but safety and quality must be at the heart of systemic reform. A National Commission would address all of these issues, and ensure that every child in Australia has access to safe, high-quality, inclusive and affordable care.

We urge the Federal Government to prioritise the establishment of a National Early Childhood Commission,” said Ms Dent.