The Greens are calling on the Labor government to establish a national independent childcare watchdog with teeth.
Every child deserves safe, high-quality early learning. But recent, horrifying abuse allegations in Victorian childcare centres have laid bare a system in crisis - one that’s failing far too many families.
Right now, there’s no national body with the power to enforce quality standards or hold bad providers to account.
Families and educators are anxious and desperate for change. The system is fragmented, under-regulated, and flooded with private providers who too often put profits ahead of our children’s wellbeing and education.
The current reactive band-aid solutions won’t keep children safe or move us towards the child-centred system we need for the future.
The Greens have a plan for an independent watchdog that will, for the first time:
- Enforce national quality standards, crack down on rogue operators, and shut down unsafe centres.
- Lead the transition to universal, free, high-quality childcare.
- Provide expert research, evaluation and policy advice to drive early learning reform, backed by data and evidence.
This isn’t just about safety, it’s about building a bold future where every child has access to the best start in life. The future starts with national oversight and accountability in our early learning sector.
If you care about keeping childcare safe, then join the Greens in calling on the government to establish an independent watchdog with teeth.