National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds
Published in the Canberra Times on 7/7/25
Australians have rightly been outraged and dismayed this week following shocking revelations about babies and toddlers allegedly being sexually abused in childcare centres in Melbourne.
In response, we have heard ministers in the Australian and Victorian governments make commitments to implement some long-delayed measures that had been recommended by various Royal Commissions and inquiries of the past.
While this is a positive outcome, there is much more to do to build safer childcare in this country.
Those Royal Commissions and inquiries have told us what to do and how to do it. So, the question left hanging is why did hundreds more vulnerable children have to be harmed before governments decided to act?
The risks to child safety have been known for decades, and the evidence-based recommendations have been sitting on a shelf.
Over the last few years, we have been collectively horrified by the notorious case of Ashley Griffiths who abused children in childcare centres in Queensland and New South Wales. And now we have these terrible allegations coming out of Melbourne.
How did we end up in this place where governments knew what to do to fix the problems and keep our children safe, but did not act?
To answer these questions, it is necessary to understand that there is no one accountable for child safety and wellbeing in the Australian Government.
In contrast, we have had Ministers for Women for decades, and 'Women and Women's Safety' is listed as a key priority for National Cabinet, which is where the Prime Minister and state and territory leaders work together on issues of national significance.
The complete absence of visibility and accountability for child safety and wellbeing at the national level has allowed the risks to remain unaddressed and the solutions not implemented. This is despite endless media exposes and tragic stories of abuse of children.
The latest scandal is taking place in childcare centres, but this is not just an issue for the early childhood education and care sector.
The failure to prioritise child safety and wellbeing and implement child safeguarding measures affects all children everywhere: in schools, after-school care, out-of-home care, youth detention, sporting clubs and holiday programs.
Anywhere you find children, there will be child safety risks that must be addressed.
Former Royal Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald said this week that it is 'shameful' that we have failed to implement the detailed recommendations to strengthen child safety from a decade ago.
He is correct, and now we need to face up to why this has been allowed to happen.
It is 'shameful' that the advice of experts continues to be ignored and the risks to the safety and wellbeing of our children is neglected.
We don't need more Royal Commissions and inquiries. We know what to do.
In fact, just last year, we had a report tabled in Parliament, Help Way Earlier!, which details steps that should be taken by governments, based on evidence, to improve safety and wellbeing in our communities, including for our children.
A core recommendation of the report is that governments across our federation need to address the barriers to action and to make child safety and wellbeing a national priority.
Right now, there is an absence of national leadership and coordination. Child wellbeing is not a priority for National Cabinet, and there is no Cabinet Minister for Children. These gaps have allowed a lack of accountability to persist, leading to critical reforms not being implemented and exposing children to harms, as was revealed again this week.
For our youngest children, we need a childcare industry with stronger regulation, independent monitoring and oversight, and comprehensive enforceable child safeguarding measures.
This week has shown that the public wants more than just 'cheaper childcare'. We demand 'safer childcare'.
And importantly this week has reinforced that in future, our children, our youngest citizens, must not be sidelined and kept waiting for critical reforms that we know will help to keep them safe.
The new term of Parliament is the opportunity to demonstrate to the Australian public that child safety and wellbeing will be a national priority from now on.
