'Haven't been doing enough': Government to fast-track childcare changes

Thursday, 3 July 2025 23:30

Education Minister Jason Clare tonight admitted he and other ministers had not done enough to act on problems in the industry but pledged to fix gaps as soon as possible.

The federal government will fast-track laws to cut funding to childcare centres that "aren't up to scratch", amid fallout from abuse allegations that have rocked Melbourne.

Education Minister Jason Clare tonight admitted he and other ministers had not done enough to act on problems in the industry but pledged to fix gaps as soon as possible.

He said new legislation would be introduced in the next parliamentary sitting fortnight, starting on July 22, to cut funding to centres that don't meet quality and safety standards.

"This is the big weapon that the Commonwealth government has to wield here," he told 7.30 tonight.

"We fund centres; 70 per cent of the funding for these centers comes from taxpayers.

" … that is the big lever that the Commonwealth government has.

"States have other levers, but that's the big one. A centre can't run without taxpayer funding or taxpayer support."

The measures were announced in March this year.

Clare also threw his support behind tougher penalties for breaches, CCTV being installed in some centres and some other measures recommended in a report into the sector in NSW and a national review that called for mandatory reporting and restrictions on mobile phones.

"The bottom line is that ministers haven't been doing enough fast enough, right?" he said, prompting host Sarah Ferguson to ask if he included himself in that category.

"Including me, and I take my fair share of responsibility for it. I've been pretty blunt about that, but I tell you what, I've got the job now, and I'm determined to act."

Allegations of sexual assault and child rape levelled at ex-sector employee Joshua Brown sent shockwaves through Melbourne this week, sparking a state review and warnings for 1200 children to get precautionary testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

Brown has been charged with 70 offences and the case remains before the courts.

Police said he worked at 20 childcare centres over a number of years, though the charges relate to eight alleged victims at a single centre.

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