THE UNION representing teachers in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in NSW and the ACT has called for urgent action to address the staffing crisis in the sector as new data reveals ongoing child safety issues.

A Productivity Commission report shows there were 9430 serious incidents at early childhood services in NSW in 2024-25, a rate of 154 incidents reported per 100 centres. A serious incident is one that has a grave impact on the health, safety or wellbeing of a child.

It also reveals NSW's use of staffing waivers, which allow services a temporary exemption from some quality regulations, has more than doubled from 316 in 2019 to 658 in 2024 – the highest in the country.

“This data shows the sector needs urgent changes to rebuild a strong child safety culture,” said Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews. “Well-trained, properly paid staff are key to solving this safety crisis.”

Ms Matthews said children attending centres with staffing waivers are at greater risk of serious harm. The reduction in the proportion of staff who have qualifications also directly impacts the safety of children.

“When there aren’t enough staff, children aren’t properly supervised, and that’s when safety breaches occur,” she said. “Serious incidents are often the result of inadequate supervision and that is a direct consequence of understaffing.”

Ms Matthews said better pay and conditions were key to improving the quality of services and solving the sector’s staffing shortages. Early childhood teachers should have pay parity with their colleagues who teach in primary schools, she said.

“Our members are constantly telling us that employers and governments need to take child safety seriously by addressing the staffing crisis in the sector,” Ms Matthews said.

The Productivity Commission’s report also shows the importance of adequate staffing ratios to effectively protect the safety and best interests of young children attending early learning centres.

“Staff-to-child ratios must be reviewed; for example, to ensure that one adult is never left alone with a group of children,” Ms Matthews said. “If one staff member leaves a group of 20 children to assist one child in the bathroom, that leaves one adult alone with 19 children.”

www.ieu.asn.au

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has tabled a report regarding proposed reforms to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) compulsory questioning warrants framework.

First introduced in 2003, ASIO’s compulsory questioning powers have been subject to recurring sunset provisions. The ASIO Amendment Bill (No.2) 2025 seeks to make these powers permanent, and further reform them, including expanding the grounds on which ASIO can seek a warrant.

The committee’s report makes four recommendations to further strengthen safeguards and accountability in relation to the granting and use of the powers, and their oversight by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security. 

PJCIS Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, “The committee is satisfied that the compulsory questioning framework is necessary and is also largely fit for purpose, and therefore endorses the proposal in the Bill to repeal provision for the periodic sunsetting of the powers.”

“With the entrenchment of the compulsory questioning powers, regular review is more important than ever.

"As per the proposed amendment in Part 1 of the Bill, the committee considers that it is appropriate for the committee to undertake another statutory review within three years of the commencement of the amendments.” Sen. Ciccone said.

A full copy of the report and further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the committee’s website.

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TODAY, Mr Tony Zappia MP, chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works presented the Public Works Committee’s first report of 2026 and its 89th Annual Report to the House of Representatives.

In Report 1/2026, referrals made in September and October 2025 considered  six proposed works:

• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – Black Mountain Greenhouse Redevelopment, with an estimated total cost of $37.9 million;
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness – Stage 1 Part Life Refit, with an estimated total cost of $372.216 million;
• Australian Taxation Office – Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises, Levels 5 to 10, 152 Wharf Street, Brisbane, with an estimated total cost of $29.179 million;
• Services Australia – Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong, New South Wales, with an estimated total cost of $22.34 million;
• Attorney-General’s Department – Proposed Fit-out of Existing Leased Premises at 3-5 National Circuit, Barton, Australian Capital Territory, with an estimated total cost of $39.3 million;
• Department of Home Affairs – Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Redevelopment Project, with an estimated total cost of $34.944 million.

The committee found these projects had merit and represented value for money for the Australian Government. The committee recommended that the House of Representatives approve them.

The committee made some additional recommendations around ensuring that proponent entities thoroughly consult with affected staff and other stakeholders prior to and during project development and that such feedback is considered in project design and implementation, where appropriate.

Mr Zappia said, "While the committee has recommended that these projects be approved, it is vital that proponent entities robustly plan all proposed works to ensure the greatest confidence in estimated budgets and that value for money for the Commonwealth is maximised.

"Proper consultation with staff and other affected partners is essential if works are to be delivered in a state that is most fit for purpose. Proponent entities must ensure that adequate consultation is undertaken to make sure that relevant feedback is included in early design work and construction phases, thereby reducing the need to make potentially costly changes at later stages," he said.

In addition to providing an update on committee activities over the course of 2025, the committee’s 89th Annual Report reiterated the need for reform of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 (the Act) and highlighted the committee’s expectations for entities proposing public works and engaging with the scrutiny process.

Echoing a similar recommendation from the committee’s 87th Annual Report, the committee called for the government to prioritise the consultative review of the Act to ensure that it remained fit-for-purpose and provided a robust legislative framework for the thoroughgoing scrutiny of proposed public works by the Parliament.

On the annual report, Mr Zappia said, "Reform of the Act was agreed in principle by the government in response to the recommendation in the committee’s 87th Annual Report back in March 2024.

"The need for legislative reform has not changed since then and the committee reiterates that recommendation as a matter of urgency.

"Legislative reform is vital to ensure appropriate Parliamentary scrutiny of proposed public works and so that committee operation is aligned to current Parliamentary practice and procedure," he said.

Note: the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works is not involved in the tendering process, awarding of contracts or details of the proposed works. Enquiries on these matters should be directed to the relevant Commonwealth entities.

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DEMENTIA AUSTRALIA has welcomed the release of the Collective Priority Framework for the National Dementia Action Plan, but said further investment was "urgently needed" to address the growing impact of dementia in Australia.

The Federal Government and all state and territory Health Ministers have agreed the urgent priorities for action are:

1. Empowering individuals and communities to minimise risk where they can, and delay onset and progression.
2. Improving dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic care and support.
3. Improve dementia data, maximise the impact of dementia research and promote innovation.

Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the release of the framework was a positive development and an important next step in addressing the growing impact of dementia now and into the future.

“We support the action areas that have been identified,” Prof. Buchanan said.

“We are also pleased that all governments will report annually on their dementia related activity and that people living with dementia will be involved in implementation.

“However, the National Dementia Action Plan was released in 2024 after extensive consultation," Prof. Buchanan said.

“Since then, dementia has become the leading cause of death in Australia and there are now an estimated 446,500 people living with dementia – a figure projected to more than double to more than one million people by 2065 without significant intervention.

“People living with dementia, their families and carers have been patient and were expecting to see firmer commitments and new investment to address the growing human and economic cost of dementia," she said.

“Without that, there is a danger services will not keep pace with demand and we will go backwards.

“We urgently need: a brain health campaign to help people minimise their risk of developing dementia; support to help people navigate the fragmented dementia service system; and improved access to diagnostic and post diagnostic services, such as respite services, particularly in rural and regional areas.

“Dementia Australia acknowledges current government investments and is committed to delivering essential services and supports for people through the National Dementia Support Program, including the National Dementia Helpline available 24 hours a day seven days a week.

“However, to really shift the dial for people living with dementia and address its growing impact on health, community services and the economy, we need to act now," Prof. Buchanan said.

“We understand all government budgets are stretched, but reducing the new cases of dementia by just 5% every year has been estimated to result in savings of $120.4 billion by 2056.

“We cannot afford to wait and are calling for the government to make further investments to make dementia a priority in the upcoming budget.”

Read Dementia Australia’s 2026-27 Commonwealth pre-budget submission at dementia.org.au/pre-budget

For dementia information and support contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit dementia.org.au. 

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