Federal government to fast-track childcare safety legislation as Victoria appoints Jay Weatherill to conduct snap review of sector

Jason Clare to introduce new powers to expand spot checks at childcare centres and cut off funding for operators that fail to meet safety standards, as Greens call for independent federal watchdog

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The federal government will fast-track legislation in the next sitting week to cut funding to childcare centres that fail to meet safety standards, after shocking allegations of sexual abuse by a worker in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

It comes as the Victorian government announced former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill and senior bureaucrat Pamela White have been appointed to lead an urgent review of childcare safety.

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