Category: Australian News

The Victorian Greens will lead the charge of a powerful inquiry into Victoria’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) system, after a motion to establish a select committee successfully passed the Legislative Council. 

The Greens say that a select committee was urgently needed to fill the gaping holes in Labor’s narrow departmental review – which fails to examine the role of the Department of Education as regulator. The move comes after further revelations today that complaints regarding supervision were ignored while children were being harmed in care.

The committee will provide greater transparency with the powers to call for documents, compel witnesses and experts. It invites the community’s voices to be heard with parents and educators able to participate and a final report to be made available by 30 July 2026. 

The terms of reference for the inquiry to investigate include: 

• Whether current safety and quality standards in early childhood services are adequate

• The quality and oversight of educator training, qualifications, and Working with Children Checks
• How privatisation impacts affordability, accessibility, safety and outcomes – compared with public and not-for-profit models
• Educator workforce conditions, including pay, workload, job security and how this affects retention and quality
• Whether current staff-to-child ratios are appropriate and applied correctly across services
• The role of the Department of Education in monitoring services and maintaining child safety broader issues around how child safety standards are implemented, enforced and complied with across the sector

The Greens said that while urgent reforms to improve safety and oversight must begin now, the inquiry will ensure those reforms are grounded in transparency and accountability, not political damage control.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Early Childhood, Anasina Gray-Barberio: 

“The Greens have led the charge to get this inquiry up because families deserve real answers, not the Labor government marking its own homework behind closed doors.”

“Labor has been dodging accountability, finding every excuse not to produce key documents, but this independent inquiry will help hold them to account and make sure nothing is swept under the rug.”

“We’ve heard too many stories of children being harmed while complaints were ignored. This inquiry will help uncover what’s gone wrong and how we fix it.”

The Greens say that Labor must stop hiding behind excuses and urgently commit to releasing documents following explosive reports regarding complaints made to the Department of Education.

Reports in the Age today reveal that the Department of Education received a complaint in 2022 about serious supervision failures at a centre where accused paedophile Joshua Brown allegedly sexually abused children.

These complaints are exactly the kind of documents that the Greens requested via a parliamentary order last month which the government failed to meet the deadline on releasing.

The Attorney-General tabled a letter yesterday with a copy-paste excuse saying that there was insufficient time to meet the request and the Premier told Parliament there were “too many documents.”

The Greens say that when it comes to the safety of children, these documents are too important to be ignored and have proposed that Labor release the documents in tranches, which is how similar documents were revealed in New South Wales.

This process will allows the time required to carefully redact sensitive information, protect children’s privacy, and ensure transparency is delivered in a realistic, staged way.

The Victorian Greens spokesperson for Early Childhood, Anasina Gray-Barberio said that not releasing these documents is impossible to defend, and that if this is what’s uncovered from one complaint, one whistleblower, it makes you wonder what else in those documents that the Labor Government doesn’t want us to see.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Early Childhood, Anasina Gray-Barberio:

“This is exactly why we’re pushing for these documents to be released – to expose the red flags that were ignored while children were being harmed. Labor’s refusal to release them is starting to look like a cover-up.”

“If Labor cares about children’s safety and fixing this system they need to commit to working with us on a way we can release these documents in a safe and realistic way.”

“In New South Wales, similar documents were released in tranches. There’s no reason we can’t do the same here.”

“The longer Labor stalls, the more people are asking, what’s in those documents that they don’t want us to see?”

The Victorian Greens will move to establish a powerful parliamentary inquiry into Victoria’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) system this week and have called on Labor to commit to releasing key documents relating to safety and regulation in childcare, after they missed the deadline last week.

The Greens will push for a select committee, saying it’s needed to fill the gaping holes in Labor’s own review, amid growing concern over the lack of transparency and accountability in how the childcare sector is regulated.

The move comes as the Greens today table a letter to the Premier, formally calling on the Labor Government to commit to releasing the documents requested by the Greens which was respectfully drafted to ensure identifying details are redacted to protect children’s privacy.

The Greens say they understand more time may be needed to do this thoroughly, but that the public deserves a firm commitment that the documents will eventually be released, and a clear timeline to go with it.

While Labor continues to operate in secrecy – and with their narrow review fails to examine how the Department of Education regulates the sector – the Greens say a broader inquiry is essential to understanding the full scale of the crisis and how to fix it.

The proposed select committee would be chaired by a non-government member to ensure transparency and independence. It would have the power to call witnesses, compel documents, and investigate both government and private childcare providers. It will require the support of the Opposition and additional crossbench members to pass.

The inquiry would examine the consequences of Victoria’s increasingly privatised childcare system, unsafe staff-to-child ratios, poor workforce conditions, weak oversight, and critically, the Department’s role in regulating the sector.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Early Childhood, Anasina Gray-Barberio:

“If we want to fix this crisis, we need to understand the full scale of the problem. Labor’s narrow review avoids scrutiny of their own regulation while they’ve been marking their own homework. We need this inquiry to fill in the gaps.”

“This Labor government consistently fails to be transparent and accountable. I’ve written to the Premier with a yes or no question, are you going to release these documents? We understand that redacting private information takes time and we support that but families need assurance they’re not going to be left in the dark.”

Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for International Aid & Global Justice, Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to today’s motion.

Senator Faruqi:

“Words won’t feed people, but with this motion, Labor’s hand will be forced to implement sanctions. The parliament’s support for this Greens motion puts it on the record that Israel is breaching international law and that the Australian Government must act. 

“There is a legal obligation to prevent genocide, and from today’s vote, Labor can no longer pretend that they did not know.

“This is a direct result of community and Greens pressure. For almost two years, voices for peace including the Greens have been attacked and maligned by the Government but today is vindication that they are starting to open their eyes to stopping the genocide and the forced starvation of Palestinians.

“Finally, Parliament is starting to pressure Israel to stop its genocide. After 21 months, Parliament is finding its heart, but Labor’s courage on sanctions is still missing. 

“This is just a start. The Greens will continue to hold the Government to account to ensure that their support for this motion today translates to genuine action – including the economic sanctions needed to end the blockade. 

“The only blocker to sanctioning Israel is Labor. The Greens will continue our pressure, continue to hold Labor to account, and to ensure that Parliament’s vote for this motion today translates into genuine action.” 

The latest NAPLAN results have revealed student outcomes in NSW are stagnating, with no significant improvement under Labor’s watch.

Despite the Minns Government’s claims of record investment, foundational skills including reading, writing and maths are going backwards, with one in three students failing to meet the baseline standard.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said proper support is needed for teachers and kids in the classroom.

“What we’ve seen under Labor is a Government that has stripped resources from schools and slashed budgets, which is why we are seeing these results today,” Mr Speakman said. 

“The Premier and the Education Minister are always quick to claim things are improving when it comes to teacher vacancies, but student results are going in the wrong direction and that should be the real test.”

Shadow Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the Government has cut crucial resources and support over the past two years and it needs a new plan to lift student outcomes.

“Under the former Coalition Government, we invested more than $950m in small group tuition to help students catch up, but that was cut down to just $80m this year, which shows this Government just isn’t investing in things we know make a real difference,” Mrs Mitchell said.

“We’re not seeing the improvements we should be seeing in our classrooms, and when you’ve got a third of students falling behind something is seriously going wrong. 

“Without a plan to lift outcomes, Labor is failing the kids who need help the most and that should be extremely concerning for every parent and student in NSW.”

The Albanese Labor Government is backing Australian families, parents and kids by announcing today YouTube will be included in its world-leading under-16 social media laws.

Delaying access to social media, including YouTube, until the age of 16 will protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development, giving them three more years to build real world connections and online resilience.

Following extensive consultation and advice, age-restricted social media platforms will face fines of up to $49.5 million for failing to take responsible steps to prevent underage account holders onto their services.

Age-restricted social media platforms will include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube, amongst other platforms.

Informed by advice from the eSafety Commissioner, the Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025 tabled today specify which types of online services will not be captured by the social media legislation, including online gaming, messaging apps, health and education services.

These types of online services have been excluded from the new minimum age obligations because they pose fewer social media harms to under 16s, or are regulated under different laws.

From 10 December 2025, all services that meet the definition of ‘age-restricted social media platform’ in the Act, and are not excluded in the rules, will be subject to the social media minimum age law.

Age restricted social media accounts are defined as services that allow users to interact and post material.

The Government is proud to be on the side of families.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Our Government is making it clear – we stand on the side of families.

Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms so I’m calling time on it.

Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”

Minister for Communications Anika Wells

“The Albanese Government is giving kids a reprieve from the persuasive and pervasive pull of social media while giving parents peace of mind.

We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are.

There is no one perfect solution when it comes to keeping young Australians safer online – but the social media minimum age will make a significantly positive difference to their wellbeing.

The rules are not a set and forget, they are a set and support.

There are heavy penalties for companies who fail to take reasonable steps to prevent underage account holders onto their services of up to $49.5 million.

“There’s a place for social media, but there’s not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children.”

On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Albanese Government reaffirms its commitment to combatting human trafficking and modern slavery in all its forms.

This year’s theme, ‘Human trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation’, highlights the growing links between human trafficking and other serious transnational crimes.

The Australian Government has zero tolerance for any form of exploitation and is taking strong action to address modern slavery, including human trafficking and forced labour, both at home and around the world.

Australia is deeply concerned about the growth of trafficking in persons into online scam centres for forced criminality. Many of these scam centres are operating across our region – to defraud and steal from people, including Australians.

Online scam centres have become one of the world’s biggest illicit industries, spurring cyber-enabled money laundering and underground banking and fuelling the illicit drug trade.

Domestically, our Scams Prevention Framework, passed in February, introduces world-leading protections for Australian consumers. The National Anti-Scam Centre is working with government, industry, other regulators, law enforcement and community organisations to disrupt criminal operations and protect Australians.

Internationally, Australia continues to partner with governments and organisations to combat trafficking, share intelligence and support victims – including through the ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking program and the Bali Process, which we co-chair with Indonesia.

If you suspect that you or someone you know is being trafficked, call the police on 131 237 (131 AFP) or report online.

Help is available, even if you are not sure it is human trafficking.

Learn more about Australia’s response to human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong:

“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the victims and survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery, to continue combatting this global scourge in all its forms.

“Human trafficking and modern slavery affect more than 50 million people worldwide.

“The Albanese Government is taking strong action to protect Australians and support partners in our region. Our world first ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking program and our co-leadership of the Bali Process is dismantling trafficking networks, disrupting online scam syndicates and supporting victims and survivors.”

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland MP:

“The Australian Government is taking significant steps to prevent, disrupt, investigate and prosecute human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery, and to support and protect victims and survivors.”

“This includes requiring large business to report on action to address these crimes under the Modern Slavery Act 2018.

“Australia stands with victims of these abhorrent crimes and remains committed to providing victim-centred support and protection.”

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Dr Daniel Mulino MP:

“The Australian Government is making a significant investment in preventing scams and it is already having an impact.

“We want to prevent people being harmed by scams and are putting in place world leading measures to help keep Australians safe – our Scams Prevention Framework, legislated in February this year, will establish world leading consumer protections against scams.”

The Senate has established an inquiry into Labor’s transition to a new aged care system. The Greens spokesperson for Older People, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, will chair the inquiry.

Labor’s Aged Care Act reforms, which were due to commence on 1 July of this year, have been pushed back to 1 November. 

As Chair of the inquiry, Senator Allman-Payne will focus on ensuring advocates and community members are given the opportunity to raise their concerns about the lack of timely access to Home Care Packages, as well as the rising costs and inequality coming to the aged care system from 1 November when the remaining changes come into effect.

Under Labor’s upcoming changes, pensioners and older renters will pay more than ever before, and many more will miss out on vital care entirely.

As Uniting NSW & ACT has warned, aged care residents who can afford an upfront deposit (usually from selling their family home) may be worth twice as much in revenue to an aged care facility as an older person who is living week to week. 

That difference in value, combined with a shortage of available residential beds and a rationing of home care packages, has led to fears of a two-tiered aged care system, leaving thousands of pensioners and older renters without the care and support they deserve.

Labor’s new Aged Care Act raised the cap on aged care deposits (known as Refundable Accommodation Deposits) from $550,000 to $750,000. Due to exemptions in the system, aged care deposits already commonly exceed a million dollars in capital cities. 

Even if a pensioner manages to get a place in the residential aged care system, the Government’s own analysis shows that costs will go up for 30% of full pensioners and 75% of part-pensioners from November.

Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens spokesperson for Older People:

“You shouldn’t have to be a millionaire just to guarantee care in your old age, but that’s exactly what’s at risk from Labor’s new aged care system.” 

“Right now, over 87,000 people are stuck on the waitlist for a home care package.”

“Without access to care at home, an older person’s only option becomes the residential aged care system, where cash is king and beds are rationed in favour of those who can afford massive upfront deposits.”

“Far from fixing the residential aged care system, Labor’s changes coming this November mean wealthier homeowners may soon be worth twice as much in revenue to an aged care facility as an older person who lives week to week.”

“These changes, combined with the massive shortage of home care packages, are a perfect storm meaning pensioners and older renters will miss out, and be cruelly left to age and die without the care they need.”

“The Greens will continue to shine a light into this dodgy system, and we call on Labor to intervene urgently before 1 November to put the care of older people first.

We, the Foreign and Defence Ministers of Australia and the Foreign and Defence Secretaries of the United Kingdom, reaffirm our shared commitment to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda as a cornerstone of our foreign and defence policies.

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in October this year, the promise of the WPS agenda remains unfulfilled. Around the world, women and girls continue to be disproportionally affected by conflict and insecurity, and their exclusion from conflict prevention and peace processes is preventing the achievement of lasting peace, security and prosperity.

Australia and the United Kingdom have long championed action across the four pillars of the WPS agenda: Participation, Prevention, Protection and Relief and Recovery. This includes driving progress to eliminate conflict-related sexual violence, and both nations are deeply concerned by its pervasive use as a deliberate and devastating tactic of war.

Together, we remain committed to the full implementation of the WPS agenda, including to:

• Promote women’s leadership across all realms of peace and security, including conflict prevention, peace negotiations, peacekeeping operations, and defence institutions.
• Support women-led organisations and human rights defenders working in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
• Strengthen accountability mechanisms to prevent and respond to sexual gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence.
• Collaborate internationally to share best practices, build capacity, and advocate for the WPS agenda in multilateral forums and through the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

We recognise that progress requires sustained political will and inclusive partnerships. As close partners, Australia and the United Kingdom will continue to work together to ensure that the WPS agenda remains central to our efforts to build a more peaceful, stable and prosperous world.

We are pleased to welcome the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, the Hon Feleti Penitala Teo OBE, to Australia to officially open the Tuvalu High Commission in Australia.

During his visit, Prime Minister Feleti Teo will meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, and Minster for Defence Industry and Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy, as well as other senior members of the government, to discuss the substantial progress made to implement our joint commitments under the historic Falepili Union Treaty, signed in 2023.

This includes the Falepili Mobility Pathway, which enables Tuvaluans to live, work and study in Australia.

The agreement is delivering on Tuvalu’s request to help safeguard its future from the worsening impacts of climate change, including through $47 million in 2025-2026 for development assistance to support Tuvaluans to stay and thrive in their homeland.

Australia and Tuvalu will also sign a memorandum of understanding to establish the Tuvalu-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership as part of the $50 million Australia-Pacific Partnership for Energy Transition (APPET), which will provide practical support to integrate high levels of renewables in line with Tuvalu’s Nationally Determined Contribution, while contributing to reliability, security and affordability.

The Tuvalu High Commission, located in Canberra, will enhance cooperation between our countries, and support a growing Tuvaluan diaspora in Australia, bringing the communities of Australia and the Pacific ever closer.

This is the first time Tuvalu has had diplomatic representation in Australia and is Tuvalu’s sixth diplomatic mission overall.

The Hon Feleti Penitala Teo OBE will be visiting Australia from 25-31 July 2025.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“We warmly welcome the new Tuvaluan diplomatic mission in Canberra for what is a historic moment in the deepening partnership between our two countries.

“The new high commission will provide valuable support to the Tuvaluan diaspora, as we deliver on our commitments under the Falepili Union. It is another reminder that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Tuvalu as the impacts of climate change worsen.”

Minister for Defence Industry and Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy:

“The opening of the High Commission is an important step in strengthening the friendship between Australia and Tuvalu.

“The Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty is the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world and the most significant Pacific policy this country has undertaken in the last fifty years.

“It brings the people of both our countries closer together and it’s another example of the Albanese Government turning up and acting on the priorities of the people of the Pacific.”