Opposition renews call for independent childcare watchdog

Media Release | 11 February 2026

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Liam Staltari MLA

Shadow Minister for Education;

Early Childhood; Disability Services; Heritage

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The WA Opposition has renewed its call for an independent Early Childhood Watchdog in

the wake of alarming new data which has revealed an 81 per cent increase in serious

incidents in WA’s childcare centres over the last five years.

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The Productivity Commission’s latest Report on Government Services reveals that 2,286

serious incidents were recorded, or more than eight each day, in WA early childhood

services in 2024-25 – up from 2,154 the previous year and an 81 per cent increase in just

five years.

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The incidents included:

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• 1,827 incidents of injury, trauma or illness (including broken bones);

• 281 cases of a child being locked in, locked out, taken away or left unaccounted for;

• 178 incidents requiring the attendance of emergency services; and

• 264 incidents linked to a confirmed breach of regulations.

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WA recorded the highest proportion of serious incidents tied to confirmed breaches (11.5

per cent) in the country – well above the national average.

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Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Liam Staltari said the data was deeply concerning.

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“Parents expect their children to be safe and well-supervised and sadly these figures do

not meet that expectation,” Mr Staltari said.

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“The Minister has been quick to claim that the safeguards are working but when WA leads

the nation on incidents tied to confirmed breaches it’s impossible to draw that

conclusion.”

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This report follows revelations that just 10 per cent of allegations of sexual abuse or

grooming by childcare workers in WA led to someone being banned from working in the

industry by the Education and Care Regulatory Unit in the past six years.

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Mr Staltari said that these new figures underscored the need for real reform.

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“We are talking about the safety of our kids. The stakes are high and we need real action,”

he said.

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“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.

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“Other states have taken this crucial step and yet the Cook Labor Government has failed to

follow suit.”

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ENDS

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Contact: Graham Mason – 0419 194 79

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