Senator Matt O’Sullivan
Shadow Minister for Choice in Childcare and Early Learning
Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence
Deputy Manager of Opposition Business
Senator for Western Australia
Media Release
27 October 2026
The CCTV footage shown on Four Corners last night of a childcare worker at the Injinoo Childcare Centre violently assaulting a 13-month-old boy was horrific.
His parent’s courage in sharing the footage, so Australians could see what happened to their son in order to prevent further harm to children, is commendable.
This case raises serious questions about if current safeguards are working.
The Coalition supported the Government passed legislation last year to strengthen child safety in childcare settings. It must now show families that those protections are working in practice.
The Coalition-led Senate Education and Employment References Committee inquiry into the quality and safety of Australia’s early childhood education and care system recommended clear timeframes for regulators to respond to allegations, stronger information sharing between regulators and police, and at least four unannounced spot checks of services each year.
The Government must explain how it is acting on these recommendations.
Every child deserves to be safe in care, and every parent deserves confidence that the service entrusted with their child is meeting its duty of care.
The Coalition will keep holding the Government to account and advocating for a childcare system that puts children’s safety first, listens to parents and gives every family access to quality care, genuine choice and flexibility.
[ENDS]