The newly appointed childcare minister from the Labor party has vowed to expel incomplete or hazardous operators from the multibillion-dollar industry, warning providers that prioritize profits over safety will face closure. In her inaugural significant interview after joining the frontbench, Senator Jess Walsh from Victoria told Guardian Australia that the federal government is gradually moving towards implementing a comprehensive childcare system across Australia, a goal that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese envisions as part of his enduring legacy.
The industry has been plagued by safety and standard failures, including severe incidents at childcare facilities, a concern recently highlighted by the ABC. Walsh commented on the distressing nature of these incidents, stressing the utmost priority for the Commonwealth and states, along with the regulatory authorities, to collaborate and address safety issues.
Walsh is collaborating with states and territories to enforce safety standards, with measures like restricting mobile phone use by early childhood educators being one of the tools to improve sector safety. She emphasized that the government will deploy new tools to target operators who put profit above child safety, asserting that such entities have no place in the sector.
Despite calls from the Productivity Commission and advocates for a national commission to advise and monitor progress toward universal early education, and to better coordinate efforts between states, territories, and the Commonwealth, Walsh did not commit to the idea, stating that quality in the sector has improved overall. Carolyn Croser-Barlow, the chief executive of early childhood think tank The Front Project, argued that while collaboration is essential, it is insufficient, advocating for a national commission to formalize responsibilities and ensure information sharing among government levels.
Walsh’s new responsibilities present an opportunity to redistribute responsibilities more effectively, balancing the Commonwealth’s previous focus on cost reduction and provider incentives with state and territory compliance enforcement. The lack of a formal “vision” for universal childcare, published in a draft by the national cabinet in March 2023 and pending stakeholder consultation, is seen as a critical gap affecting the industry’s quality and safety standards. Both Walsh and Croser-Barlow recognize the importance of finalizing this vision to ensure accountability and quality in childcare services.
Legislation for a three-day childcare guarantee, effectively removing the activity test, and promised 15% pay rises for childcare educators, with the final 5% increase slated for December, mark steps towards a universal system, according to Walsh. She acknowledged the Prime Minister’s vision for universal early education, depicting her elevation to the ministry as a significant opportunity for reform.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/28/albanese-government-will-shut-down-sub-standard-childcare-operators-minister-vows
