<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/federal-politics"><span>federal government</span></a><span> will fast-track laws to cut funding to </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/childcare"><span>childcare</span></a><span> centres that "aren't up to scratch", amid fallout from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-childcare-worker-charged-with-over-70-child-sex-offences-affected-centres/f2cc2b4e-9508-4409-b3e8-5cb69e2dbd5e"><span>abuse allegations that have rocked Melbourne</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="http://9news.com.au/education"><span>Education</span></a><span> Minister Jason Clare tonight admitted he and other ministers had not done enough to act on problems in the industry but pledged to fix gaps as soon as possible.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said new legislation would be introduced in the next parliamentary sitting fortnight, starting on July 22, to cut funding to centres that don't meet quality and safety standards.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/exclusive-scope-of-childcare-abuse-allegations-could-be-greater-than-first-indicated/3e74b343-802f-4b86-a082-4644d41f209f" rel="" target="" title="Scope of childcare abuse allegations could be greater than first indicated"><strong><span>Scope of childcare abuse allegations could be greater than first indicated</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is the big weapon that the Commonwealth government has to wield here," he told </span><em><span>7.30</span></em><span> tonight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We fund centres; 70 per cent of the funding for these centers comes from taxpayers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>" … that is the big lever that the Commonwealth government has. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/government-to-fast-track-childcare-changes-after-abuse-allegations/7ea92bb9-f26a-4f6c-aab3-a4b2f04c35d0" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"States have other levers, but that's the big one. A centre can't run without taxpayer funding or taxpayer support."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The measures were announced in March this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clare also threw his support behind tougher penalties for breaches, CCTV being installed in some centres and some other measures recommended in a </span><a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/putting-children-first-stronger-laws-independent-regulator-among-reforms-to-early-childhood-sector"><span>report into the sector in NSW</span></a><span> and a national review that called for mandatory reporting and restrictions on mobile phones.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The bottom line is that ministers haven't been doing enough fast enough, right?" he said, prompting host Sarah Ferguson to ask if he included himself in that category.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Including me, and I take my fair share of responsibility for it. I've been pretty blunt about that, but I tell you what, I've got the job now, and I'm determined to act."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Allegations of sexual assault and child rape levelled at ex-sector employee Joshua Brown sent shockwaves through Melbourne this week, sparking a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/victorian-premier-jacinta-allan-orders-urgent-review-into-childcare-safety/7d66a966-61ed-4d57-9a3f-d9349b95bb26"><span>state review and warnings for 1200 children to get precautionary testing for sexually transmitted diseases</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Brown has been charged with 70 offences and the case remains before the courts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police said he worked at 20 childcare centres over a number of years, though the charges relate to eight alleged victims at a single centre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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