7am The woman who exposed the childcare industry
Nov 2, 2025
Abigail Boyd, an MLC with the NSW Greens and chair of the Inquiry into Early Childhood Education, sheds light on the dire state of Australia's childcare system. She reveals shocking truths about understaffing and neglect in childcare centres, where profit often prevails over child safety. Boyd discusses the lenient regulatory culture that allows these abuses to continue and the cozy ties between providers and government. She calls for urgent reforms, including better staffing and accountability, ensuring that child care prioritizes safety over profits.
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Privileged Documents Revealed Harrowing Abuse
- Abigail Boyd read thousands of privileged regulator documents detailing children left in soiled nappies and strapped for hours.
- She cried while reviewing repeated, harrowing complaints that had been ignored by authorities.
Abusers Found Outside, Not By Centres
- Child abusers are being found externally, not identified by centres or regulators.
- That indicates systemic failure in screening and oversight within childcare services.
Public Money Fueling For-Profit Growth
- Over 78% of childcare providers are for-profit, unlike other education sectors.
- Public subsidies flow to corporations whose incentive to cut costs can conflict with child safety.