Major reforms to working with children checks are finally on the way, with all Australian states and territories agreeing to new changes by the end of the year, according to the federal attorney general.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the reforms will bring greater consistency across jurisdictions. One of the key changes is that workers banned from working with children in one state or territory will automatically be banned in all others.
“This consistency will help close dangerous loopholes,” Rowland said. “If someone is banned in one part of the country, they should be banned everywhere.”
However, Rowland also confirmed that despite the unified approach, there will not be a single national scheme. Instead, each state and territory will maintain its own system while aligning key standards to prevent offenders from slipping through the cracks.
The announcement comes after growing pressure for stronger safeguards following a series of high-profile abuse cases and long-standing recommendations from the royal commission.