Jason Clare signals stronger accountability as new childcare safety powers introduced

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has introduced new legislation designed to improve safety in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services by empowering the Commonwealth to cut off funding to centres that fail to meet national standards.

The legislation, introduced this week, enables the Department of Education to issue a formal warning to services falling short of required quality and safety benchmarks. If a service fails to respond adequately within 28 days, its Commonwealth funding may be withdrawn.

Speaking to 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson, Mr Clare described the measure as a necessary tool to strengthen enforcement and signal to service providers that failure to comply with safety and quality requirements will have consequences.

“This is not about shutting down services, it’s about setting expectations,” Mr Clare said. “If you don’t meet the standards that children and families deserve, the funding stops.”

The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of the National Quality Framework (NQF) and the adequacy of regulatory oversight across the country. While state regulators conduct quality assessments under the NQF, Mr Clare acknowledged inconsistencies in how frequently centres are assessed, with some services going unvisited for up to a decade.

“There are still centres that haven’t been assessed in 10 years. That’s unacceptable,” he said. “The states know where repeated issues are occurring and that’s where this legislation will first apply.”

Several jurisdictions including Queensland, Victoria and South Australia have announced increased investment in their regulatory arms to address workforce shortages and improve oversight.

Mr Clare was clear that the new powers form part of a wider reform effort, which also includes the development of a national educator register, improvements to training and supervision, and consideration of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in centres.

He also stressed the importance of supporting the ECEC workforce, acknowledging that recent events had taken a toll on educators.

“People have been spat on in the street just for wearing their centre uniform. These are some of the most dedicated, hard-working people in the country. They care for our children every day, and they’re as hurt and angry as anyone,” he said.

Educators, he added, are the sector’s “greatest asset” in keeping children safe and must be equipped with the skills to identify inappropriate behaviour, including mandatory child safety training to support this goal.

Asked about the role of private equity and large providers in the sector, Mr Clare was unequivocal: “Money talks. Some organisations have put profit ahead of safety. If they don’t meet the standards we set, they won’t be part of the system.”

The legislation also includes provisions for greater transparency, allowing the government to notify parents, governing boards and even the stock exchange if a centre is at risk of losing funding due to safety or quality failings.

Mr Clare confirmed the government would not tolerate providers who failed to respond to regulatory directions, regardless of size.

While Mr Clare defended the National Quality Standard and ratings framework, he acknowledged the system has not kept pace with sector growth and public expectations.

“There’s more work to do, not enough has been done, and not fast enough,” he said. “If we’re serious about protecting the children in our care, then the Commonwealth, the states, and providers all have to step up.”

As the ECEC sector continues to respond to ongoing public concern, the new legislation marks a significant shift in how funding and compliance are linked with potential consequences for underperforming services and stronger protections for children.

Read the full transcript from the Minister’s media centre here.