The Victorian Greens have today renewed their call for a dedicated, independent early childhood safety watchdog, following shocking revelations that Labor ignored repeated warnings from the children's commissioner that ongoing underfunding would mean "children will be abused."
Victorian Greens spokesperson for Early Childhood, Anasina Gray-Barberio, said the current system had failed to keep children safe and that while the Commission for Children and Young People does vital work, it's been left overstretched, underfunded and without the mandate to oversee how the system is working as a whole. It can only investigate some cases after they're reported, and sometimes too late.
The Department of Education manages the funding and regulation of childcare with no independent oversight. The Greens say this leaves the government free to "mark its own homework" when it comes to safety in the sector.
That's why the Greens are calling for an independent watchdog dedicated to early childhood safety with powers to oversee the Department's regulatory role, investigate systemic failures, report publicly on compliance and enforcement, and ensure follow-up when risks are identified. Crucially, this body must be properly funded and guaranteed for the long term.
The call comes as the Greens continue to wait for the release of key documents relating to childcare safety, after Labor missed the deadline to produce them in Parliament last Friday.
Quotes attributable the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Early Childhood, Anasina Gray-Barberio:
"It's heartbreaking that the warning signs were there, and Labor was told but they did nothing. It's devastating to think what might have been prevented if they had acted sooner."
"Right now, Labor marks its own homework, with the Department of Education managing the funding and regulation of childcare with no independent oversight - we requested documents relating to regulation and we're still waiting to hear if Labor are going to provide any of them.
"If Labor couldn't prioritise child safety even after being warned it would lead to abuse, how can they be trusted to regulate the system?"
"That's why we need a dedicated, independent early childhood watchdog with real powers to hold the government to account and make sure no child falls through the cracks."
