Queensland premier commits to national leadership on child safety in wake of sector scandals

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has pledged to make the state a “national leader” in child safety, following a wave of high-profile child protection failures linked to early learning services across the country.

The commitment comes as the Queensland Government prepares to launch a commission of inquiry into the state’s child safety system, and the federal government moves to introduce legislation to penalise non-compliant childcare providers by suspending or cancelling public funding.

Premier Crisafulli acknowledged the scale of the challenge and stated:

“The issue in childcare centres won’t be solved overnight. It’s confronting, what is occurring. We are not going to have a situation where monsters can lurk in centres where our most vulnerable and most precious asset, our children, go every day.”

The Queensland Government is fast-tracking a reportable conduct scheme, a key recommendation from the 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Set to commence in July 2026.

A review of the Blue Card system is underway, examining how past failures can inform improvements to child protection screening and information-sharing between agencies.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has confirmed new legislation will be introduced to allow the Commonwealth to impose funding conditions on early learning providers who fail to meet child safety standards. With around 70 per cent of childcare funding provided through federal subsidies, the proposed measure is seen as a significant enforcement tool.

“This is the biggest stick the Commonwealth has to wield here,” Mr Clare said. “A service can’t operate without that funding.”

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek has called for a national database of childcare workers, enabling employers and regulators to access employment and conduct histories with “the click of a button.”

Minister Clare signalled support for this approach, saying:

“This shouldn’t be the sort of information that comes out in drip-feed form. It should be information that’s easy to access quickly.”

For approved providers and centre managers, these developments reinforce the need to:

• Review staff screening and risk assessments, particularly for contractors and casuals.
• Prepare for expanded reporting obligations under upcoming legislation.
• Communicate transparently with families about compliance and safety protocols.
• Engage with professional learning to build a culture of safety and accountability.

The Queensland inquiry, due to report in November 2026, will drive long-term reform. In the interim, services must act decisively to restore public confidence and uphold their legal and ethical obligations to protect children.

To read the original coverage of this story, as produced by the ABC, please see here