QLD BUDGET: FUNDING FOR CHILDCARE REGULATOR WELCOMED, BUT FEDERAL LEADERSHIP NEEDED

Early childhood advocates have welcomed the Queensland Government's decision to provide $12.7 million in ongoing funding for the state's Early Childhood

Regulatory Authority ^[1] but say states cannot tackle child safety alone and federal leadership is urgently needed.

Campaign Director of The Parenthood, Maddy Butler said that the investment will help maintain the public’s trust in the early learning sector and ensure children can access highquality early learning in safe and nurturing environments.

"All children and families deserve access to safe, high-quality early learning, and the horrific stories of safety breaches at early learning centres across the country we've been hearing in the news recently are evidence of a system in need of national leadership," Ms Dent said.

"This announcement will provide comfort to Queensland families that the state government is taking active steps to ensure their children can access safe early learning and care.

"But states cannot do this alone – we need the Federal Government to step up and provide national leadership through the establishment of a National Early Childhood Development Commission.

"Such a commission would ensure safety and quality standards are enforced uniformly across all states and territories.

"A national approach would prevent the patchwork of different standards and oversight that currently exists, giving all Australian families confidence in their local early learning services regardless of where they live," Ms Butler said.

[1] Crisafulli Government saves early childhood regulator – Queensland Government