POLITICS
OPINION PIECE Closing loopholes, keeping kids safe
with Michelle Rowland MP Federal Member for Greenway
Every child and young person deserves to grow up free from harm, with the care and support they need to reach their full potential.
As Attorney-General, I made clear that my top priority at my first meeting with my state and territory counterparts would be driving reform to the Working with Children Check( WWCC) system to close loopholes and strengthen protections.
That’ s why I’ m pleased that I secured agreement from Attorneys-General from across the country to do exactly that- progressing ambitious reforms to keep our young people safe.
At the heart of these reforms are three major changes to ensure the WWCC system is stronger, more reliable and more consistent across the country.
Firstly, if someone is rejected for a WWCC in one state, they will be rejected everywhere – banned in one, banned in all. We have also committed to a new national system that will monitor changes to criminal history of WWCC holders in near real-time. Finally, WWCC assessment frameworks will be stronger and more consistent nation-wide.
Together, these measures will significantly strengthen child safety, complementing the work led by the Education Minister, Jason Clare, to enhance outcomes in the early childhood education and care sector.
Ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable, particularly our young people is the foremost priority of any government, and it is one that the Albanese Government takes extremely seriously.
In recent weeks, like so many parents and families across Australia and our community, I have been shaken by the horrific cases of alleged abuse in childcare centres.
When parents drop their little ones off, they should be able to do so with confidence that they will come home safe at the end of the day.
Successive governments have let Australians down, by failing to progress reforms to the WWCC system to ensure it is fit-for-purpose and keeps our young people safe. This ends now.
Working as a team, the Albanese Government along with States and Territories are committed to ensuring our children grow up safe from harm. There is no higher priority, and we will not rest until that is a reality for every Australian family.
MESSAGE
with Brad Bunting Mayor, Blacktown City Council
If you read last month’ s Independent, you may recall I let you know of Council’ s financial challenges to maintain and deliver infrastructure and services and the proposal to apply to increase rates by more than the usual amount.
To recap, a booming population needing greater support and cost shifting from governments means Council will be unable to fund the services our community expects.
Yet there is a solution. Under the proposal, the majority of residential ratepayers would see an increase of $ 3.29 per week for the 2026 / 27 financial year. This would ensure we have the parks, roads, footpaths and more our community deserves.
I believe this is the way to secure the future for Blacktown City.
I know many of you have questions. I
FROM THE
MAYOR
YOUR CHANCE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RATES PROPOSAL
want you to have the opportunity to be fully informed and have those questions answered.
From early September, Council is running a comprehensive community consultation program to provide the facts and figures behind the proposal and share your thoughts.
You will receive letters in your mailbox, have opportunities to ask questions in person, and be able to learn more through the Have Your Say page on Council’ s website.
The consultation program will span 42 days so everyone has time to learn more, have their questions answered and offer their thoughts.
An independent research study will collect feedback. This will be reported to Council before any decision to apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.
I encourage you to learn the facts and make up your own mind.
By having this conversation, I am confident we can achieve what is best for Blacktown City.
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 54 // SEPTEMBER 2025 17