Thursday, 3 April 2025

Early childhood education and care

Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (18:04): (1585) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Children. Minister, the action I seek is for you to advocate to federal colleagues to support the federal Greens’ call for an independent Early Education and Care Commission to strictly enforce quality standards and keep our kids and babies safe. Tragically, discussions about harm to children have dominated the media and airwaves over the past few weeks. The ABC’s Four Corners, with support from my fellow Greens colleague Abigail Boyd in the New South Wales Legislative Council, exposed horrific abuse in child care. Emily’s four-year-old son disclosed sexual abuse by a childcare worker. She reported it to the centre and the police, but crucial CCTV footage was erased and parents were never informed. This is not an isolated incident. Over 26,000 serious childcare breaches were reported in 2024. Missing children, injuries, abuse – this cannot be normal. The investigation revealed the consequences of childcare privatisation, with underpaid, overworked staff pressured to meet financial targets – unchecked abuse, putting profits over children’s safety.

The Saturday Paper exposed another disturbing failure of accountability: Bird v. DP. This case involved a man sexually abused at age five by a priest. The High Court overturned previous court rulings and determined the Catholic Church is not responsible for clergy crimes because priests are not employees. Survivors deserve justice, not loopholes. As a result, thousands of survivors in Australia have no legal path to justice. Instead of taking responsibility, the church used the courts to shield its assets. Other countries – Canada, the UK and Ireland – have strengthened laws to hold institutions accountable. Australia’s High Court, however, is falling behind.

Outrageously, the church are happy to claim whenever it suits them. The church took $627 million in JobKeeper payments during COVID by claiming clergy as employees but now denies responsibility for clergy abuse. The hypocrisy is staggering. The law states that organisations take ‘reasonable precautions’ to prevent child abuse under their care, but instead they are moving through loopholes that prevent victims from getting justice. It is devastating to see institutions dodge responsibility while victims suffer. This is wrong and it has to change. Institutions that fail to protect children must be held accountable – no exceptions, no excuses.