Federal, state and territories meet over reform of working with children checks
Krishani Dhanji
Attorneys general are meeting in Darwin on Friday to work on nationalising the working with children check – sparked by serious allegations of safety breaches and child abuse in the childcare sector.
But a fully nationalised system will only be in place under current timelines from mid-2028 – two years from now.
The Coalition in recent days has put pressure on the government’s timeline and accused it of delaying the national system.
The federal attorney general, Michelle Rowland, says today the AGs will seek agreement on a baseline of criminal offences which will automatically bar a person from being granted or hold a working with children check (WWCC), and discuss minimum standards for WWCC risk assessment processes.
Rowland says:
All governments have made significant progress towards delivering a national approach to Working with Children Checks … I am confident my state and territory colleagues will take the next big step today and agree on nationally consistent minimum standards and information sharing.
Key events
Leaders gather for Garma festival
A children’s TV megastar, foreign dignitaries and thousands of visitors will converge on remote northeast Arnhem Land for the Garma Festival, which carries the Yolŋu theme “Bukmak” – all of us, everyone, together.
The four-day celebration of Yolŋu life and culture kicks off on Friday at the Gulkula ceremonial site, about 40km from Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula, with organisers expecting between 5,500 and 6,000 people through the gates.
Foreign minister Penny Wong, education minister Jason Clare and Indigenous affairs minister Malarndirri McCarthy will be among those attending the gathering, which has become one of Australia’s most important forums for Indigenous policy and cultural exchange.
The political heavyweights will share the spotlight with Australia’s most famous blue heeler, with Bluey going bush for a special visit to Yolŋu country on Friday so families and djamarrkuli (children) can say yukurr (hello) and grab a selfie.
After dark, all five Bluey episodes translated into Yolŋu Matha by the ARDS team will roll out on the big screen, with the crew behind the dubs on hand to share the moment.
Garma is Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering, a four-day celebration of Yolŋu life and culture in remote northeast Arnhem Land.
Garma runs from Friday to Monday.
Most Australians say they face barriers accessing dental care, survey finds
Three-quarters of the 25,000 Australians surveyed in the Australian Dental Association’s 2025 consumer survey said they faced barriers to accessing dental care, which could be forcing them to delay or avoid it.
The survey found cost was the biggest obstacle to regular dental care for young adults, but a lack of free time and reduced access to support were also factors.
Cost pressures outlined in the survey support a decades-long push to improve affordability of dental care by adding dental to Medicare.
The average cost of a dental check-up and clean in Australia last year was just below $240, according to Cleanbill’s 2025 National Dental Listings Report.
The association also says social media is driving a surge in cosmetic dental procedures.
Indigenous community rejects $150m Fortescue payout
A legal battle involving Indigenous land rights is set to return to court after native title holders rejected a court-ordered $150m compensation payout, Australian Associated Press reports.
The federal court ordered in May that Andrew Forrest’s company Fortescue pay the Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation the sum in compensation for mining on its land without an agreement and destroying cultural sites.
Yesterday a meeting of Yindjibarndi native title body members voted unanimously to appeal the decision, in order to seek more from the miner.
Yindjibarndi Group chief executive, Michael Woodley, said:
It was a long, emotional day, which resulted in a decision by all attendees to put family and Ngurra [Country] first.
The decision represents the strong connection between Yindjibarndi People and our Ngurra, and what we hold as the key value of our community – that is, a successful future for the next generations.
Good morning, blog readers. Nick Visser here to take the reins and guide us through Friday. Let’s get to it.
Federal, state and territories meet over reform of working with children checks
Krishani Dhanji
Attorneys general are meeting in Darwin on Friday to work on nationalising the working with children check – sparked by serious allegations of safety breaches and child abuse in the childcare sector.
But a fully nationalised system will only be in place under current timelines from mid-2028 – two years from now.
The Coalition in recent days has put pressure on the government’s timeline and accused it of delaying the national system.
The federal attorney general, Michelle Rowland, says today the AGs will seek agreement on a baseline of criminal offences which will automatically bar a person from being granted or hold a working with children check (WWCC), and discuss minimum standards for WWCC risk assessment processes.
Rowland says:
All governments have made significant progress towards delivering a national approach to Working with Children Checks … I am confident my state and territory colleagues will take the next big step today and agree on nationally consistent minimum standards and information sharing.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.
State, territory and federal attorneys general are meeting today to discuss reform on working with children checks. The meeting has been sparked by serious allegations of safety breaches and child abuse in the childcare sector.
A farewell will be held for Layla Jeffery, 13, in Donald today. Layla went missing in July and a 16-year-old boy has been charged over her alleged murder.
And a legal battle involving Indigenous land rights is set to return to court after native title holders rejected a court-ordered $150m compensation payout.
Thanks for joining us.
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