WA child care centres: Opposition calls for independent watchdog after alarming rise in serious incidents

The Opposition has renewed its call for an independent watchdog to scrutinise child care services in response to new figures showing more than 2000 serious incidents — or more than eight each day — were recorded in the past financial year. Shadow early childhood minister Liam Staltari said the data was “deeply concerning” and underscored the need for reform. The Productivity Commission’s latest report on government services revealed 2286 incidents occurred in WA child care centres in 2024-25, up from 2154 the previous year. The alarming data included 1827 cases of children being injured, traumatised or falling ill, 281 cases of a child being locked in or out, taken away or left unaccounted for, 178 incidents requiring emergency services to attend and 264 incidents linked to a confirmed breach of regulations. WA had the highest proportion of serious incidents tied to confirmed breaches, with 11.5 per cent — well above the national average. Mr Staltari said parents who sent their children to child care services expected them to be safe and well-supervised. “Sadly, these figures do not meet that expectation,” he said. “It is time for the Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) to be lifted out of the Department of Communities and replaced with a genuinely independent childcare watchdog with real resources and real teeth. “Other states have taken this crucial step and yet the Cook Labor Government has failed to follow suit.” Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton claimed WA already had a robust regulatory framework, with ECRU playing a key role to ensure services were compliant. “It is important to note in WA, the Department of Communities does not own or operate any early childhood education and care services, meaning that ECRU operates as a separate and independent regulator,” she said. “When incidents are identified, ECRU investigates and takes appropriate action. The number of serious incidents in WA early childhood and care services remains below the national average. “It is positive to see the number of early childhood and care services rated at meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard increased from 81.1 per cent in 2024 to 85.2 per cent in 2025. “Unlike other States and Territories, WA’s Department of Communities publishes outcomes of prosecution of formal disciplinary actions for offences against the national law on its website.” Georgie Dent, chief executive of parents’ advocacy group The Parenthood, said the worrying data reinforced the urgent need for a national early childhood commission. “For many families, confidence remains fragile,” she said. “One in 10 have withdrawn from care and many more reduced work hours after safety scandals — that reflects shaken confidence. “No parent should have to choose between their child’s safety and their financial security. “We need the Government to move swiftly and enhance the regulation and oversight of our ECEC system to protect children in care and restore the broken trust of Australian parents.”