Latest News
• Add My News • Search Old News
Melina Bath helped secure Victorian Ombudsman to investigate child care regulator after abuse allegationsThe Ombudsman will investigate Victoria's childcare regulator after Nationals and Liberals secured action following abuse allegations and Labor's failure to strengthen child safety oversight and Working With Children Checks. By news@gippsland - 1st August 2025 - Back to News The Victorian Nationals and Liberals have secured an independent investigation into the state's childcare regulator after serious allegations emerged of child sexual abuse in Victorian childcare centres. The Legislative Council passed a motion moved by the Liberals and Nationals which will see the Ombudsman conduct a full investigation into the performance of the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD) - the regulator responsible for monitoring safety and compliance in early childhood education. 
The Ombudsman will investigate abuse reports, regulatory failures, weak checks, rising complaints, and Labor's exclusion of QARD from safety reviews Demanding accountability nowIt comes after the Allan Labor government blocked reforms proposed by the Liberals and Nationals in the lower house that would have strengthened Victoria's Working With Children Checks. The Nationals' Melina Bath, said an independent investigation into the regulator was a vital step in addressing the systemic failures that have exposed Victoria's most vulnerable to grave risk for far too long. "The Allan Labor government's repeated inaction, despite deafening warnings from the Ombudsman in a 2022 report, has shattered trust in the system that is meant to keep children safe. For three years Labor knew there were serious, widespread deficiencies in QARD's oversight and enforcement mechanisms, and for three years it did nothing." "Rather than establishing an apolitical, truly independent, and wide-ranging review to fully investigate the failures in Victoria's childcare system, Labor deliberately narrowed its scope to avoid scrutiny. Shamefully, Labor's own review excludes any assessment of the performance and governance of the childcare regulator - a blatant attempt to dodge accountability and conceal government failings," Ms Bath said. Protecting our childrenThe Ombudsman will consider the following: - Alarming reports of child sexual abuse linked to one individual who worked across at least 24 childcare centres, prompting over 2,000 children to undergo testing
- Failure of the Allan Labor government to act on a 2022 Ombudsman report that described Victoria's Working With Children Check system as among the weakest in the nation
- Lack of mandatory training for applicants and the absence of a centralised register of childcare educators to strengthen oversight
- 45 percent increase in complaints to QARD since 2018, while enforcement actions have plummeted by 67 per cent over the same period
- Exclusion of QARD from the Allan Labor government's Rapid Child Safety Review
"The system is broken, and now is the time for urgent action to prioritise the safety of children. Only The Nationals and Liberals are committed to protecting our children," Ms Bath said. Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
Related Articles- Melina Bath urges parents, carers, and educators to provide submissions to improve child safety by 30 November 2025
Victoria's Child Safety Inquiry calls for public submissions to investigate early childhood education failures, restore family confidence, and recommend reforms ensuring children receive safe, high-quality care and protection. - Melina Bath urges action on Gippsland youth crime with tougher penalties, stronger policing, and restored diversion funding
Melina Bath has demanded urgent action on Gippsland's escalating youth crime, calling for tougher penalties, stronger police presence, and restored diversion program funding to protect communities and restore safety. - Melina Bath urges Labor government to scrap emergency services tax as VFF survey shows farmers' frustration and concern
The Nationals' Melina Bath urged the Allan Labor government to scrap the emergency services tax, citing VFF survey findings showing widespread financial, mental, and regulatory pressures on Victorian farmers. - Melina Bath criticises Labor government shutting public beekeeping, threatening Victoria's food security and horticultural jobs
Melina Bath condemned the Allan Labor government's closure of public land beekeeping, warning it threatens food security, pollination, horticultural exports, and regional jobs, calling for policy reversal and support for apiarists. - Melina Bath slams Agriculture Minister Ros Spence for ignoring Gippsland farmers' struggles under Labor's tax regime
Melina Bath criticised Agriculture Minister Ros Spence for refusing to advocate for Gippsland farmers, citing VFF survey results showing overwhelming concern over new taxes and Labor's disregard for regional agriculture. - Melina Bath urges communities to honour veterans' families and support Legacy Week fundraising efforts
Melina Bath urges communities to support Legacy Week, honouring veterans' families. Funds raised provide financial, educational and emotional support, continuing Sir Stanley Savige's century-old vision of care, compassion and mateship. - Melina Bath criticises Labor government, calling Myki's delayed tap-and-go rollout a "mythical unicorn," outdated and incompatible
Victoria's long-promised tap-and-go public transport system has been delayed until 2028, leaving commuters, especially in regional areas, still reliant on outdated Myki cards and paper tickets - Melina Bath criticised Labor's plan to create new national parks, locking out long-term bush users
Liberals and Nationals oppose Labor's plan to convert 65,000 hectares into national parks, citing unfair exclusion of bush users despite strong opposition and a 40,000-signature petition against the proposal. - Victorian Health Department sets Gippsland priorities, access, workforce, safety, shared services, and mental health expansion
The Victorian Department of Health has set four Gippsland health priorities: access, workforce, safety, and shared services, while highlighting mental health needs and significant workforce investment at Warragul's regional health leaders' forum. - Darren Chester secures $20,000 to preserve Tambo Valley trenches commemorating Victoria's WWII history
Darren Chester secured $20,000 funding to preserve the historic Tambo Valley Trenches, enhancing access, safety, and interpretation, while honouring East Gippsland's wartime history and boosting cultural tourism along the Great Alpine Road. - Baw Baw Shire Council secures funding for four key road safety projects through TAC and federal Blackspot Programs
Baw Baw Shire Council secured TAC and Federal Blackspot funding for four key road safety projects in Warragul and Drouin, targeting high-risk areas with upgrades to improve safety for all road users. - Bass Coast celebrates Victorian Seniors Festival this October with events, workshops, performances and community connection
The Victorian Seniors Festival returns to Bass Coast this October with the theme Connect, Create, Celebrate, offering workshops, performances, games, tours, and free transport for Seniors Card holders. - Bass Coast Shire Council urges Victorian government, LSV to ensure lifeguard patrols continue safely, without cuts
Bass Coast Shire Council urges Victorian government and LSV to guarantee lifeguard patrols, warning proposed funding hike strains budgets while beaches remain high-risk, with recent drownings highlighting urgent safety needs. - Danny O'Brien praises Gippsland community's generosity supporting Foster Kids after ram raid destroyed Christmas gifts
Danny O'Brien praised Gippsland's generosity after a ram raid devastated A Better Life For Foster Kids, urging continued support through toy donations, PJ Day participation, and community involvement to brighten children's lives. - Serious crime rises reflect community concerns, worsened by Labor's cuts, weakened bail, reduced youth programs, says Melina Bath
Crime in Eastern Victoria has reached a 20-year high, with Melina Bath condemning Labor's soft approach, police under-resourced, and The Nationals vowing stronger laws, prevention programs, and community safety reforms. - Wellington Shire Gippsland Regional Livestock Exchange surges ahead, handling one in 43 Victorian Cattle Sales in 2024
Gippsland Regional Livestock Exchange recorded a remarkable 122% increase in cattle throughput last financial year, making it the highest percentage increase of any saleyard in Australia. - Nationals pledge to restore Parentline funding, criticise Labor's decision to axe vital family counselling service for Gippslanders
The Nationals vow to reinstate Parentline funding if elected, condemning Labor's cut to the vital family counselling service that supports Victorian parents, particularly in regional communities facing limited access to services.
|
|
