<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Horrific allegations of abuse across childcare centres in Australia have triggered fresh </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/government-to-fast-track-childcare-changes-after-abuse-allegations/7ea92bb9-f26a-4f6c-aab3-a4b2f04c35d0" rel="" target="_blank" title="proposed legislation"><span>proposed legislation</span></a><span> which aims to address gaping holes in the sector.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An urgent childcare reform forms one half of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/federal-politics" rel="" target="_blank" title="federal government's"><span>federal government's</span></a><span> two key pieces of legislation introduced on July 23 as parliament returns for its second day of sitting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Education Minister Jason Clare said a lot of work needs to be done to "rebuild trust" in a system millions of parents rely on every day to keep their children safe.</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/world/children-drugged-in-human-trafficking-sex-ring-uncovered-in-underground-bunker-officials-say/f35af6b7-9f4d-4d1d-b721-02e42f2f6f77" target="_blank"><strong><span>Child victims of human trafficking sex ring found in bunker</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's exactly what the federal government is proposing and how it will work.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Cutting funding from centres which don't keep kids safe</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today the government introduced legislation to parliament to lift child safety in early education and care services.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/childcare-reforms-australia-what-is-being-proposed-explainer/952bb8f4-bdbd-4ad8-85d7-d77ec1399419" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This piece of proposed legislation would give the federal government the power to immediately cut funding to centres which don't meet minimum standards.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It would also allow Commonwealth officers to perform "spot checks" without warning to identify fraud or non-compliance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think the whole country has been sickened and shocked by the allegations that have come out of Victoria in the last few weeks," Clare said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The biggest weapon that the Commonwealth has to wield here is the funding that we provide that enables child care centres to operate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's something like $16 billion a year, and that covers about 70 per cent of the cost of running the average child care centre."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clare said the government knows childcare centres can't survive without funding.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He explained the government doesn't want to "shut centres down" but aims to promote safer environments in centres.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's about lifting standards up and giving us the powers to make that happen," Clare said.</span></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/father-of-three-jailed-after-spraying-chilli-substance-in-bunnings-which-left-11-people-in-hospital/e1ee00ef-21e8-4e10-832e-caae4f5fc3ee" target="_blank"><strong><span>Horror Bunnings 'prank' leaves 11 people in hospital</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It remains unclear what the threshold would be for the government to flex this power, however it is understood the legislation will target centres who make even a single breach of safety standards.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government would also be able to issue a "show cause" notice, which gives a centre 28 days to prove they meet the minimum standards.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Centres which repeatedly breach regulatory requirements could have their Child Care Subsidy (CSS) approval suspended or cancelled.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And new provider approvals or expansion requests could be denied over safety breaches.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minister for Early Education Jess Walsh said the legislation should only come as a threat to "repeat offenders" who put profit above child safety.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have a strong message for those providers who do put profit ahead of child safety, and that is that we want you to lift your game or to leave the sector," Walsh said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It gives us a strong stick that we're willing to use to drive standards in early childhood education to deliver the quality and the safety that parents deserve."</span></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/finance/gst-why-are-there-calls-to-change-it-australia-tax-system-explained/90b4e02e-8aec-4a15-8727-e2ba31209a98" target="_blank"><strong><span>Politicians don't want to talk about it, economists want to overhaul it. So why are there calls to raise the GST?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>CCTV cameras and stronger worker vetting</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The comprehensive reform also includes a call for a national childcare worker register and improvement on Working With Children Checks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think the revelations in Victoria over the course of the last few weeks tell us exactly why this is so important," Clare said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Allegations have been levelled at ex-sector employee Joshua Brown, 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>Police now believe Brown worked at 24 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025 in Victoria.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Brown is charged with 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims police say were at Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023.</span></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/two-thirds-australian-workers-looking-to-change-jobs-hays-salary-guide/a1d0de79-e91b-45d3-ac55-b4eb4a18dc98" target="_blank"><strong><span>Nearly two-thirds of Australian workers preparing to quit their job</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Education ministers will also meet next month to discuss a proposed rollout of CCTV cameras in centres.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"CCTV and the role that it can potentially play in deterring a bad person from doing heinous things and also helping police with their investigations," Clare added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's expected the legislation to cut funding will be fast-tracked through parliament this week after Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the Coalition would support the reform, describing it as "above politics".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Independent Education Union, which represents early childcare teachers in Australia, said it welcomes the proposed reform.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The IEU supports cutting federal funding from providers that do not prioritise child safety and those that put profits ahead of the children they care for," said NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews.</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" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><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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