Senate Education and Employment References Committee
19 November 2025
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Senate Education and Employment References Committee Australian Parliament
10:07 - 12:27
Speaker 5
Everyone. I declare open this hearing of the Senate Education and Employment References Committee into the quality and safety of Australia's early childhood education and care system. I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians on the land in which we meet and pay my respects to their elders past and present. I extend that respect to aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today. The committee will be conducting today's hearing both remotely and in person.
I am joined in the room today by senators Blythe and Delego with senators Smith Hodgins May joining us by video conference. These are public proceedings being video streamed live via the parliament's web site, and a hand side transcript is being made. I remind all witnesses that in giving evidence to the committee, they are protected by parliamentary privilege. It is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence given to a committee, and such action may be treated by the senate as a contempt. It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence.
Witnesses also have a right to request to be heard in camera. I remind senators of their obligations under the behavior code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect. I remind committee members and witnesses who are appearing via video conference who are not speaking to please mute their microphones. I now welcome representatives from the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Center for Counter Child... Australian Center to Counter Child Exploitation.
The senate has resolved that an officer of a department of the Commonwealth or of a state shall not be asked to give opinions on matters of policy and shall be given reasonable opportunity to refer questions asked of the officer to superior officers or to a minister. This resolution does not preclude questions asking for explanations of policies or factual questions about when and how policies were adopted. If a witness objects to answering a question, they should state the ground upon which the objection is made, and the committee will determine whether it will insist on an answer having regard to the ground which is claimed. If the committee determines to insist on an answer, a witness may request that the answer be given in camera. Commonwealth officers appearing today are also reminded of the senate order specifying the process by which a claim of public interest immunity should be raised.
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