SNAICC in the News – Early Education Three-Day Guarantee, Dutton’s Royal Commission & Youth Justice Senate Inquiry
The week of 3 February 2025 covers the announcement of an Early Education Three-Day Guarantee legislation from the Albanese Government, strong opposition to Peter Dutton’s Royal Commission plans and details on the Youth Justice Senate Inquiry.
On 5 February 2025, the Albanese Government announced Early Education Three-Day Guarantee legislation that will ensure three days of subsidised early education for children and families, replacing the Activity Test. The legislation—if passed—will allow most parents to access three days of subsidised childcare per week and will effectively benefit over 100,000 families by making early education more affordable and accessible, and contributing to improved school readiness for children. SNAICC – National Voice for our Children has welcomed the announcement of the Early Education Three-Day Guarantee legislation as it will give thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families access to Early Childhood Education and Care. Catherine Liddle, SNAICC CEO, described the legislation as ‘life-changing’, saying that the evidence is clear: the earlier children can access quality education, the better their outcomes, and that every child deserves a great start in life. Catherine said that the Activity Test has made it extremely difficult for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to access early education services and that every child deserves a solid foundation in life. SNAICC strongly urges bipartisan support for the legislation, which will play an important role in Closing the Gap and ensuring that all children—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children—have access to a quality start in life.
Peter Dutton’s proposal for a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities has faced strong criticism this week. Catherine Liddle condemned the proposal as a political ploy that demonises Aboriginal people without improving child safety. With over 62% of Australians having experienced some form of abuse—physical, emotional or sexual violence—she said that the specific focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children ignores the larger scope of child abuse in Australia. Catherine noted that since the 1997 Bringing Them Home Report, there have been more than 33 reports on child protection with 100s of recommendations that have not been implemented. Late last month, Dutton announced a commitment to establish a royal commission into child sexual abuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within the ‘first 100 days’ of being elected, calling it an ‘absolute priority’ of the Liberal government.
This week, a Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System has heard powerful accounts from advocates speaking on the increasingly punitive and harmful nature of youth justice systems, especially for vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. During the Senate Inquiry, Catherine Liddle discussed the disproportionate removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, community and cultures, as well as the alarming rate at which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enter the child protection and youth justice systems. She, alongside other advocates, pointed towards the severe consequences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who face structural determinants, such as poverty, systemic racism and historical trauma, all of which contribute to their over-representation in criminal justice systems. The Senate Inquiry concluded with a call for meaningful participation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in shaping policy and outcomes, as their lived experiences provide vital insight into the flaws of the current system.
For complete coverage, find the news stories linked below.
Topic: Early Education Three-Day Guarantee legislation
On 5 February 2025, the Albanese Government announced Early Education Three-Day Guarantee legislation to ensure three days of subsidised early education for children in need, replacing the Activity Test.
The Early Education Three-Day Guarantee legislation, which—if passed—is planned take effect in January 2026 and will ensure that children from families earning $50,000 to $100,000 annually will save an average of $1,460 per year on early education costs. The announced legislation will allow most parents to access three days of subsidised childcare per week, regardless of whether they work or not, and will effectively benefit over 100,000 families by making early education more affordable and accessible, and contributing to improved school readiness for children. Additionally, the Albanese Government will establish a $1 billion Building Early Education Fund to expand and build new early education centres in regional and outer suburban areas. The Albanese Government flagged the changes late last year and is now moving to legislate them in what could be the final two sitting weeks before the federal election to force the Coalition to address a key election issue.
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children has welcomed the introduction of the Early Education Three-Day Guarantee legislation as it will give thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families access to Early Childhood Education and Care. Catherine Liddle, SNAICC CEO, spoke on the legislation in an appearance on ABC News and noted that those working in early childhood education understand the barriers families face in accessing care. With the legislation, families will have access to 100 hours of subsidised early education and care every two weeks, a change Catherine described as ‘life-changing’. She said that the evidence is clear: the earlier children can access quality education, the better their outcomes, and that every child deserves a great start in life. Catherine said that the Activity Test has made it extremely difficult for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to access early education services, a problem that SNAICC has been working to address for years. She said that every child deserves a solid foundation in life and that scrapping the Activity Test and building and expanding services in regional and remote areas will make a significant difference in the daily lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. She added that the legislation and changes it will bring cannot come soon enough.
Minister for Education, Jason Clare, said that the legislation, following previous efforts to reduce childcare costs and raise wages for early education workers, will be crucial to ensuring every child has access to a great start in life. Minister for Early Childhood Education, Dr Anne Aly, spoke about the importance of eliminating the Activity Test to ensure that every child can access the transformative benefits of early childhood education. She said that the Three-Day Guarantee is about ensuring that every child, regardless of background or where they live, has access to early childhood education and care, and that this legislation is laying the foundation for a truly universal early childhood education system by improving affordability, increasing supply and accessibility, and securing the vital workforce families rely on.
The legislation is expected to be introduced in Parliament within the next two weeks and has received support from political parties including the Greens. SNAICC strongly urges bipartisan support for the legislation, which will play an important role in Closing the Gap and ensuring that all children—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children—have access to a quality start in life.
For complete coverage, find our Media Release and news stories linked below.
Read our Media ReleaseArticle: Three-day childcare guarantee could pass parliament this fortnight
Excerpt:
Read the full articleChanges that would allow most parents to access three days of subsidised child care a week, regardless of whether they are working or not, could pass through federal parliament within weeks.
The federal government flagged the changes late last year, with the expectation Labor would take them as a commitment to the next election.
Instead it is moving to legislate the changes in what could be the final two sitting weeks before the election, in an effort to force the Coalition to show its hand on a likely election issue.
Media Release: Albanese Government introduces legislation to guarantee 3 days of early education and care
Excerpt:
Read the full Media ReleaseThe Albanese Labor Government has today introduced legislation to deliver an early education 3 Day Guarantee and replace the Liberal’s Activity Test.
Every child has the right to go to school – and governments have a responsibility to make that possible.
We believe every child has the right to go to early education, to help make sure they don’t start school behind – and our Labor Government is going to make this possible.
This legislation introduced today guarantees three days a week of subsidised early education for children who need it from January 2026.
Article: SNAICC backs “life-changing” early childhood legislation
Excerpt:
Read the full articleSNAICC – National Voice for our Children welcomed the “life changing” legislation, which they say will give thousands of Indigenous families access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) by scrapping the activity test.
The new legislation will give First Nations families 100 hours of subsidised ECEC each fortnight, chief executive Catherine Liddle said.
The Arrernte/Luritja woman said closing the gap starts with children and early education and care, and argued evidence showed “vulnerable children get the greatest benefit from accessing quality ECEC”.
“SNAICC has advocated for many years to remove the Activity Test, which created barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families accessing subsidised care. Many families [have] completely disengaged because there is not enough subsided care available,” Ms Liddle said.
“Access to ECEC services means our children are more likely to be developmentally ready for big school and they are more likely to access allied health and NDIS supports needed for them to thrive in life.”
Article: Support for greater access to early childhood education
Excerpt:
Read the full article“Closing the gap starts with our children and that starts in early education and care,” Ms Liddle said.
“Evidence shows vulnerable children get the greatest benefit from accessing quality ECEC.
“Access to ECEC services means our children are more likely to be developmentally ready for big school and they are more likely to access allied health and NDIS supports needed for them to thrive in life.
“It means more support for vulnerable families. Recent studies have even correlated access to ECEC services to a decreased likelihood of engaging in youth crime.”
SNAICC said it supported the Labor Government’s election commitment of a $1 billion fund to build or expand more than 160 childcare centres across Australia.
Topic: Dutton’s Royal Commission demonising Aboriginal peoples
Peter Dutton’s proposal for a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities has faced strong criticism this week.
Organisations, experts and politicians have, this week, criticised Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s election promise to hold a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Late last month, Dutton announced a commitment to establish a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within the ‘first 100 days’ of being elected, calling it an ‘absolute priority’ of the Liberal government. The call for a Royal Commission has been consistently rejected by Peak Bodies who have said that these calls for a royal commission into the sexual abuse of Aboriginal children feed into some of the most entrenched prejudices against Aboriginal people and communities.
Catherine Liddle condemned the proposal as a political ploy that demonises Aboriginal people without improving child safety. With over 62% of Australians having experienced some form of abuse—physical, emotional or sexual violence—she said that the specific focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children ignores the larger scope of child abuse in Australia. Catherine noted that since the 1997 Bringing Them Home Report, there have been more than 33 reports on child protection with 100s of recommendations that have not been implemented. She said that Dutton’s focus on a Royal Commission neglects proven, evidence-based measures that could better protect children, such as supporting Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and early education programs, which have been shown to prevent involvement in child protection and youth justice systems. Catherine said that if Dutton is truly concerned about the safety of children, he should be calling a Royal Commission into the abuse of all Australian children.
Australian Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy questioned Dutton’s understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues and policies, such as child protection procedures and welfare quarantining. She pointed towards Dutton’s proposals, such as mandatory work-for-the-dole and the reintroduction of income management for parents of young offenders, as examples of misguided and lacking an understanding of the complexities in the Northern Territory, where similar policies already exist. McCarthy emphasised the importance of community consultation on welfare policies, as well as the failure of previous policies such as the Coalition government’s Community Development Program, which she said disproportionately punished remote communities.
Catherine Liddle said that if Dutton is truly concerned about the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children he would support the strengthening of community-controlled organisations that work to keep children and families in the child protection system connected. She said that he would support Aboriginal community-controlled early education and care that prepares children for a strong start in life and assists families before they are in crisis. She said that he would commit to bipartisan support for the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and that spending millions of dollars on a Royal Commission is the definition of ‘reckless government spending’ and will not improve the life of one child.
For complete coverage, find our Media Release and news stories linked below.
Read our Media ReleaseArticle: Coalition not [listening] to Aboriginal voices on Royal Commission proposal – SNAICC
Excerpt:
Read the full articleThe peak body for Indigenous children has slammed Peter Dutton’s renewed calls for a royal commission into sexual abuse of First Nations children in remote communities, labelling it a “demonisation of Aboriginal people”.
Asked at a press conference in Alice Springs on Wednesday about the prospect of a royal commission, Mr Dutton said it was an “absolute priority of the Government that I lead,” arguing children in Alice Springs shouldn’t be treated “any different to any other part of the country”.
“Children deserve the sanctity of their childhood, and they deserve the protection of their government. It would be a priority for us to establish the Royal Commission,” he said.
Nonetheless, the coalition has not committed to a royal commission looking at children in any other jurisdiction or area, prompting SNAICC – National Voice for our Children to argue his focus on Indigenous communities was only a “political ploy that would not make one child safe”.
“Mr Dutton first made these claims in 2023, and hundreds of organisations and individuals rejected his stance, instead calling for action on solutions backed by evidence. It is beyond disappointing we have not been heard,” SNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle said.
“If Mr Dutton is truly concerned about the safety of children, he should be calling a Roya Commission into the abuse of all Australian children.”
Article: ‘Confused:’ Malarndirri McCarthy says Peter Dutton doesn’t understand child protection
Excerpt:
Read the full articleMinister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy has claimed Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is confused about key Indigenous Affairs policies he is taking to the election, including child protection processes, legislation and welfare quarantining.
With the political parties shifting into election mode – with a federal poll due before May 17 – Mr Dutton yesterday held a press conference in Alice Springs with Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
Article: Dutton’s Plan For A Royal Commission Into Child Sex Abuse In Remote Communities Slammed
Excerpt:
Read the full articleHowever, the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) has slammed this call for a royal commission, arguing the opposition leader has “made the demonisation of Aboriginal people a centrepiece of his election campaign”.
Such an inquiry is a “political ploy”, SNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle remarked.
“[He] first made these claims in 2023, and hundreds of organisations and individuals rejected his stance, instead calling for action on solutions backed by evidence. It is beyond disappointing we have not been heard,” Liddle said in a statement on Thursday.
In 2023, the Australian Child Maltreatment Study revealed the majority of Australians (62 per cent) have experienced at least one type of child abuse or neglect. Among this, the most common were domestic violence, physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
“Child abuse is far too prevalent in Australia full stop. Singling out Aboriginal families and communities is harmful and puts ideology before evidence,” Liddle said. She pointed out there had been over 33 reports into child protection since the Bringing Them Home report in 1997, however hundreds of recommendations from these remain unimplemented.
Article: Coalition, NT Government seemingly at odds over need for Royal Commission
Excerpt:
Read the full articleThe announcement was heavily criticised by Indigenous organisations on Thursday, more than 15 months after first stating their reservation to the idea, calling it “beyond disappointing” their voices had not been heard.
“Spending millions of dollars on a Royal Commission is the definition of ‘reckless government spending’ and will not improve the life of one child,” SNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle said on Thursday.
Despite the Coalition’s insistence of the need for the royal commission – only to examine alleged abuse in Indigenous communities as opposed to across Australia – this urgency wasn’t replicated by Ms Finocchiaro on Thursday, despite appearing alongside Mr Dutton at the press conference a day earlier.
Article: Dutton called out over ‘political’ Royal Commission proposal
Excerpt:
Read the full articleSNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle has criticised Opposition leader Peter Dutton for his stand on a Royal Commission on the sexual abuse of Aboriginal children in remote communities, saying it was a political ploy that would not make one child safer.
Ms Liddle said she was appalled that Mr Dutton had made the demonisation of Aboriginal people a centrepiece of his election campaign.
“Mr Dutton first made these claims in 2023, and hundreds of organisations and individuals rejected his stance, instead calling for action on solutions backed by evidence. It is beyond disappointing we have not been heard,” Ms Liddle said.
Topic: Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System
This week, the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System has heard powerful accounts from advocates highlighting the increasingly punitive and harmful nature of youth justice systems, especially for vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Catherine Liddle discussed the disproportionate removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, communities, and cultures, as well as the alarming rate at which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enter the child protection and youth justice systems. Catherine said that many of these children have experienced complex trauma and, yet, instead of providing trauma-informed, therapeutic support, the justice system responds with increasingly punitive measures, exacerbating the cycle of harm. She said that no one is arguing that children who engage in offensive behaviour should not face consequences, but that they should be appropriate and proportionate to the age and stage of the child. She called for national leadership, stating that it is well within the Australian Government’s responsibility and jurisdiction to redirect funding and policy towards eliminating the underlying structural factors that contribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s over-representation in the justice system.
The Senate Inquiry heard from a wide range of experts, legal professionals and children’s advocates, including Lil Gordon, the interim National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, who spoke about the heartbreak of the incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and the difficulties in providing proper rehabilitation. Tony McAvoy SC, a Wirdi man and prominent legal figure, spoke on the importance of systemic reform, specifically community-based and family-oriented solutions, rather than simply applying band-aid solutions to the problem.
Pat Turner, the Coalition of Peaks’ lead convener, identified the prevalence of ‘tough on crime’ politics as scapegoating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as villains. Turner pointed out that in Queensland, laws such as ‘adult crime, adult time’ allow children as young as 10 to be sentenced to life in prison, while the number of children in adult detention facilities continues to rise. The Coalition of Peaks is concerned about political opposition, particularly from figures such as Peter Dutton, who has shown no support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights issues. Despite constructive collaboration with the current Labor Government, Turner expressed disappointment with the lack of bipartisan support for the Closing the Gap agreement. Anne Hollonds, the National Children’s Commissioner, expressed concern that criminalising vulnerable young people with unmet needs increases the likelihood that they will commit more serious crimes. Catherine Liddle and other advocates spoke about the severe consequences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who face structural determinants, such as poverty, systemic racism and historical trauma, all of which contribute to their over-representation in criminal justice systems.
The Senate Inquiry concluded with a call for meaningful participation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in shaping policy and outcomes as lived experiences provide vital insight into the flaws of the current system. The Federal Government has been urged to take a stronger leadership role, ensuring that vulnerable children, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, receive the support they need to break the cycle of trauma and incarceration.
For complete coverage, find news stories linked below.
Article: Nothing will change in youth justice without federal intervention, inquiry told
Excerpt:
Read the full articleStates and territories across Australia are bringing in punitive policies for young children “over evidence-based reform,” a Parliamentary inquiry has heard.
Appearing at a Senate hearing examining Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system, the lead convener of the Coalition of Peaks, Pat Turner, said a prevalence of populist policies at the behest of Indigenous children’s safety was an ongoing concern.
She added this had only been exacerbated during the elections in the NT and Queensland.
“We continue to see ‘tough on crime’ politics play out across the country,” Ms Turner said. “These approaches are completely at odds with the evidence.”
She said some jurisdictions ran electoral campaigns which gave “credence to bringing in ‘tough on crime’ [responses] and highlighting the extent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids, and adults, as the villains”.
Article: Rehabilitation, not trauma, needed for children, SNAICC says
Excerpt:
Read the full articleSNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle said the country seemed to be calling for a “greater level of accountability” from children than was being asked of adults.
Asked about how some jurisdictions, like Queensland, had signed the Closing the Gap agreement – including committing to reducing the number of Indigenous children in custody – only to introduce laws which have been acknowledged to do the opposite, she said: “I think this is why we are giving evidence today, we do believe the Commonwealth has a role to play in that accountability.”
Ms Liddle said the nightly news often ran stories which only emphasised Indigenous children as criminals, often using inflammatory language. The media has a big story, she said, but it “doesn’t necessarily tell the right story”.
Using an example, she said the child placement principle had been attacked unfairly, with stories in the media stating the principle had led to the death of children – “which is ridiculous”.
Article: Youth justice systems increasingly punitive and cruel, inquiry hears
Excerpt:
Read the full articleOn Monday, Arrernte Luritja woman Catherine Liddle, chief executive of SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, told the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System that Indigenous children are removed from their families, communities and cultures and placed into child protection systems at appallingly disproportionately high rates.”A huge number of our children in child justice systems have had traumatic experiences or are crossover children – these are the children in the youth justice system who have also been in child protection systems,” she said.
In 2022-23, two-thirds of children in child justice systems had been in child protection systems in the previous 10 years, with First Nations kids 26 times more likely than non-Indigenous children to be among these crossover kids.
“They are the most vulnerable children,” Ms Liddle said.
Topic: Support for worker retention payment applicants
On 6 February 2025, the Australian Government announced a $10 million funding initiative to help early childhood education and care providers engage with the worker retention payment.
The worker retention payment aims to increase workers’ wages and is available to ECEC services that meet certain conditions. The Australian Government is funding a range of organisations to offer free support to providers in applying for and meeting these conditions. The organisations selected for this role include Community Early Learning Australia, Australian Childcare Alliance, National Outside School Hours Service Alliance, AI Group, SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children, Independent Education Union, United Workers Union, and the Australian Services Union. These groups were chosen based on their expertise in the ECEC sector and understanding of the worker retention payment.
A summary of the services and contact details for each organisation will be provided soon.
Read the full announcementTopic: SNAICC’25 to be held in Meanjin
The 11th SNAICC National Conference will be held in Meanjin at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 7–9 October 2025.
The SNAICC National Conference is one of the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-focused conferences in Australia. SNAICC’25 will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous organisations, policy makers, researchers, educators, front line support workers, government representatives and students the opportunity to gather and share knowledge and experience while renewing commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
The Embodied SNAICC’25 Design was created by students from Hymba Yumba Independent School and Jabiru Community College, reflecting their connection to strength, culture, and Country. This design reflects a powerful collaboration, celebrating strength, connection, and the stories of community and Country.
Find out more about the SNAICC Conference here.
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