Statement From Shadow Minister For Education 11 July
The release of the Terms of Reference for the ‘Rapid Child Safety Review’ confirms the Allan Labor Government is more focused on protecting itself than ensuring children are safe at childcare.
Rather than establishing an apolitical, truly independent, and wide-ranging review to fully investigate the failures in Victoria’s childcare system, Labor has deliberately narrowed its scope to avoid scrutiny.
Shamefully, the review explicitly excludes any assessment of the performance and governance of the current childcare regulator – a blatant attempt to dodge accountability and conceal government failings.
The Terms of Reference also ask reviewers to “take into account” the 2022 Ombudsman’s report, which called for urgent reforms to strengthen the Working With Children Check. The Allan Labor Government ignored those recommendations, leaving dangerous loopholes in place.
Instead of now acting swiftly to legislate these overdue reforms, the Allan Labor Government has asked yet another review to consider a previous review.
This review also delays action on immediate, common-sense measures that could begin protecting children right now.
There is no time to waste. The Allan Labor Government must recall Parliament and urgently pass reforms – including implementing the Ombudsman’s 2022 recommendations, installing CCTV where appropriate, and establishing a register of childcare workers as a matter of urgency.
https://vic.liberal.org.au/article/2025-07-10-statement-from-the-shadow-minister-for-education