- The Crisafulli Government is saving the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority, which Labor left unfunded from July 2025, leaving Queensland's littlest learners at risk.
- Budget delivers $12.7 million over four years to secure the children's safety and education regulator and bolster staff numbers.
- Additional funding ensures the regulator can not only continue to operate but has a better ability to keep Queensland kids safe.
The Crisafulli Government is restoring funding in the upcoming State Budget to save the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority and keep kids safe in childcare.
The upcoming Budget delivers $12.7 million over four years to bolster the workforce by an additional 29 full-time early childhood regulatory officers.
Additional boots on the ground will ensure the Regulatory Authority conducts more visits and more safety checks to give little learners the best start in life.
The former Labor Government ended funding for the regulator at June 30, 2025, which would have resulted in reduced oversight of the early childhood sector and daycare centres.
The regulator oversees more than 3,300 services to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of children, and conducts compliance and enforcement action when requirements are not met.
Regulator staff conduct onsite visits and check childcare centres and early learning centres are meeting safety requirements to minimise the risk of incidents.
The regulator will also implement all applicable and accepted findings of the Blue Card Review that's currently underway, which is identifying any gaps in the system left by the former government.
Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek said the Regulatory Authority played an important role to ensure providers and educators understood and complied with their requirements around safety and quality.
"Labor's funding cuts leave Queensland kids at risk, we are helping keep them safe by properly resourcing this safety watchdog," Minister Langbroek said.
"Parents expect when they drop their kids at childcare they are safe, and that's why the regulator must be resourced to take action when needed.
"Not only are we delivering funding certainty to bolster the regulator, our Blue Card Child Safety Review will identify where we can bolster safety and close any gaps across the Government and the community.
"Our efforts must also be supported with a stronger national approach, and we will continue our advocacy to strengthen child protection requirements across every State and territory."
