New Appeal Process and Stricter Checks for People Working with Children
Child Protection (Working with Children) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Introduced by: The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC (ALP); The Hon Kate Washington MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Rod Roberts IND
“I make a contribution to debate on the Child Protection (Working with Children) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. I do not consider myself any different from any other member of the House. I think we all find interference of a sexual nature or any type of abuse of children absolutely abhorrent.”
“I speak in support of the Child Protection (Working with Children) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. The bill strengthens the New South Wales legal framework to ensure that the safety of children and young and vulnerable people is treated as the highest priority.”
Abigail Boyd GRN
“On behalf of The Greens, I indicate our support for the Child Protection (Working with Children) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. Given the time, I do not propose to go through every aspect of the bill, but I will highlight a few things.”
Stephen Lawrence ALP
“I make a contribution in support of the Child Protection (Working with Children) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. The bill does a number of things, one of which is to remove the ability of individuals to seek an external review of the Children’s Guardian’s determination by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.”
Penny Sharpe ALP
“I note that there seems to be broad support across the Chamber, subject to us working through amendments that will come forward in the Committee stage, which will not occur tonight. The bill prioritises the specialist decision‑making of the Children’s Guardian. In the time that I have left, I will respond to a couple of issues that were raised during the debate.”
News articles and press releases
Child Protection (Working with Children) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Ms KATE WASHINGTON, Minister for Families and Communities — 2025-08-05
This includes amendments to the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Worker Checks) Act 2018, the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW), the Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Amendment Act 2024 and the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013. In particular, the bill will amend relevant legislation to ensure that only those who hold a current Working with Children Check clearance can engage in work in the early childhood education and care sector.