2025-10-27
The ABC’s Four Corners investigation has once again exposed horrific abuse and regulatory failure within Australia’s childcare sector – a crisis that sits at the heart of a failing for-profit system and government inaction on real reform.
The investigations revealed most abuse occurring in for-profit centres where cost-cutting, high staff turnover and inadequate regulation has left the gap for serious safety breaches.
Despite warnings from experts and repeated calls from the Greens, Labor has failed to introduce the comprehensive reforms needed to keep children safe.
The Greens continue to call for a national, independent watchdog with the power to keep children safe.
In August, the Greens successfully established a Senate Inquiry into the quality and safety of early childhood education and care after the government failed to adequately address the deep flaws in the system and responded with cosmetic fixes.
Attributable to Greens spokesperson for Early Childhood Education and Care Senator Steph Hodgins-May:
“This investigation is the latest example of a for-profit system working exactly as it’s designed – to make profit for shareholders while leaving our children as collateral damage.
“Parents and educators have been ringing the alarm bell for years, and they’re met with a patchwork of cosmetic fixes that do nothing to actually address the underlying problem.
“It’s the government’s job to make sure our childcare is safe. Instead, it passes the buck to families and abandons our educators who are plugging holes in a leaking ship.
“While the Coalition rejects bold childcare reform and Labor does as little as possible to pass the PR test, our children and educators continue to be left to fend for themselves.
“With the Senate Inquiry imminent, we’re ready to shine a light on the broken conditions that allow abuse and push for a system that will actually put children, families and educators at the heart of policy.
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CONTACT:
HODGINS-MAY: Steven - 0418 843 413