National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds has called for national leadership on systems reforms required to keep children safe following news of the distressing case of the childcare worker alleged to have sexually abused numerous children in Victoria.
'This is not the first time and it won't be the last, unless governments across the federation take urgent action to implement the evidence-based recommendations from numerous inquiries over past decades that will help keep our children safe,' Commissioner Hollonds said.
'National cabinet must make 'child safety and wellbeing' a key priority in the same way that 'women and women's safety' is a key priority. Currently the word 'children' is entirely missing from the list of priorities for National Cabinet,' Commissioner Hollonds said. 'We also need a Cabinet Minister for Children.'
Commissioner Hollonds said the Victorian case has captured widespread public attention because potentially thousands of vulnerable babies and young children and their families are affected.
'The childcare industry requires much stronger regulation, independent monitoring and oversight, and comprehensive enforceable child safeguarding measures. These have been detailed in numerous reports from inquiries that are sitting on a shelf.'
'Child safety comes with a cost and regulatory burden on providers and governments. But we can no longer risk the safety of our children because of the cost,' Commissioner Hollonds added.
She said one of the barriers to action is the federation structure which has allowed a lack of accountability for action to persist.
The Commissioner welcomed last Friday's state and territory education ministers' communique which said 'Ministers agreed that the safety and protection of children attending Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is the highest priority for all governments.' She said 'we need urgent action on prevention, to protect children from harm before it occurs.'
'We have heard a lot about 'cheaper' childcare. The Australian public, especially our youngest citizens, now need to see urgent action on 'safer' childcare,' Commissioner Hollonds said.
