Attorneys-General from federal, state, and territory governments are convening in Darwin today, 30 July 2026, to advance the nationalisation of the Working With Children Check (WWCC). The meeting has been prompted by serious allegations of safety breaches and child abuse within the childcare sector.
Federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stated that the meeting will seek agreement on a baseline of criminal offences that would automatically disqualify an individual from holding a WWCC. Discussions will also cover minimum standards for WWCC risk assessment processes. Ms Rowland expressed confidence that her state and territory colleagues would agree on nationally consistent minimum standards and information sharing today.
Under current timelines, a fully nationalised WWCC system is not expected to be implemented until mid-2028. The Coalition has recently criticised the government's timeline, accusing it of delaying the national system.