The horrific allegations against Joshua Brown, a former childcare worker in Melbourne charged with 70 offences including child sexual abuse and possession of child exploitation material, have once again exposed serious gaps in child safety within childcare centres.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who oversaw education when the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse began in 2013, is urging immediate bipartisan collaboration to strengthen legislation. In her letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, she emphasized the need for constructive engagement to fast-track robust child protection laws.
Ley stresses that responsibility does not rest solely with the federal government, as states hold primary control over licensing and working-with-children checks. She pointed out that Victoria’s checks are notably weaker than other states’, creating dangerous loopholes for predators to exploit.
Ley calls for a national approach, with better data management and enhanced cooperation between states to create a unified database of criminal records, preventing individuals with abusive histories from slipping through the cracks in different jurisdictions.
Furthermore, she highlights that legislative change alone isn’t enough: “Systemic reform, stronger oversight, staff training, and community education are all vital,” she said.
Education Minister Jason Clare has committed to introducing laws allowing unannounced spot checks without warrants at childcare centres and enabling federal funding cuts to centres that fail safety standards. The government will also explore CCTV use in strategic locations and improve working-with-children check systems.
Bravehearts CEO Alison Geale warns that abuse in childcare centres remains frequent and ongoing vigilance, social awareness, and legislative reform are critical.
Brown’s tragic case, having worked in 20 centres over eight years, is a painful reminder that complacency is not an option. Protecting children must be the highest priority, requiring comprehensive, bipartisan action without delay.
