Victoria calls for Australia to follow lead on child safety | Midday News Bulletin 21 August 2025 | #childsafety | #kids | #chldern | #parents | #schoolsafey

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State, Territory and Federal Governments will meet tomorrow on child safety
Two men missing in northwest Sydney river crash as downpour continues across NSW, QLD
Canberra Raider’s Sasagi says team needs a test ahead of finals’ series

Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan says national child safety reform is urgently needed, alongside state reform.

It comes after the Victorian government’s announcement of a child safety overhaul.

A recent independent review revealed systemic failings, under-funding and outdated practices within the early education sector.

The overhaul will see all 22 recommendations of the independent review implemented.

Premier Allan says a national response is also essential, to ensure child safety is a top priority across states and territories.

“We need to go further in a national system that demands a national response where we have at a state level, a set of responsibilities and we are acting with urgency to strengthen the child safety requirements around those responsibilities. But we do sit in that national system and state and territory ministers with the federal governor meeting tomorrow, there is an opportunity.”

Jacinta Allan’s government had commissioned the Rapid Child Safety Review after serious allegations of child sexual abuse by former childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown.

The search continues for two men who are missing after a car crashed into the Macdonald River, northwest of Sydney, amid heavy rain.

After the incident last night, authorities are again urging people not to drive into floodwaters.

Much of New South Wales and south-east Queensland will continue to be deluged with rain until tomorrow afternoon.

The area from the Gold Coast in Queensland down to the Illawarra region of New South Wales can expect 40 to 80 millimetres the next 24 hours.

Large parts of north-eastern New South Wales and the Hunter region is on flood watch, and there are flood warnings for the Namoi and Peel rivers, and less severe flood warnings for the Nepean and Barwon rivers.

Weather Bureau meteorologist Helen Reid says the effects of the rain could linger.

“Isolated to scattered showers will continue in coastal areas through Saturday on the easing trend into Sunday. While the weekend will be showery for those coastal parts, the rainfall totals will ease right back. However, we are likely to see the impacts of any flooding that develops continue into next week.”

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it’s hopeful for progress on two key issues on the third and final day of the productivity roundtable – efficiency in government expenditure and tax reform.

The government went into the federal election in May promising not to make changes to negative gearing and the capital gains benefit, but forum attendees are expected to make the case for those reforms today.

Unions are set to argue for a full suite of tax measures, including limiting negative gearing to one investment property, with existing laws allowed to stay in place for the next five years.

CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andrew McKeller, says he expects a productive final day, after day two delivered substantial progress on issues such as housing and construction.

“Importantly, talking about how to look at efficiency in government expenditure, and also obviously tax reform for the future. So those are critical topics. I think really this is a very vital session today. We have to make progress on those issues. So, looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to that.”

Israeli protesters and families of hostages have marched along the Gaza border, as the Israeli military announces it has begun its assault on Gaza City.

Israel’s military said yesterday that it will call up tens of thousands of reservists and extend the service of others ahead of the expanded military operation.

It comes after Defence Minister Israel Katz approved plans to begin a new phase of operations in some of Gaza’s most densely populated areas.

Many Gazans and foreign leaders fear a storming of Gaza City will cause significant casualties and massive displacement.

Daniel Lifshitz, the grandson of deceased hostage Oded Lifshitz, was among protesters calling on the Israeli government to accept a hostage and ceasefire deal.

“Calling first of all, first of all to immediately come to the negotiation table and close the hostage deal. This hostage deal is a comprehensive hostage deal, it’s just part A of a comprehensive hostage deal as well as ambassador US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told us before.”

In Rugby League, Canberra Raiders utility Simi Sasagi says tomorrow night’s clash with the Penrith Panthers in Bathurst will be a reflection of what level the team is at heading into the final’s series.

The Raiders are the NRL’s top team with three weeks to go until the final’s series.

But the Panthers are the competition’s four-time defending champions, who have recovered from a very poor start to the season to give themselves a chance at making it five titles in a row.

Sasagi says this is the sort of hard game his team needs.

“Yeah, that’s what we’ve been building on the last couple of weeks. We know we’re going to be playing finals. These games are only good for it. Penrith are a quality side, and how we deal with that this weekend will be a reflection of where we’re at.”

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Victoria calls for Australia to follow lead on child safety | Midday News Bulletin 21 August 2025 | #childsafety | #kids | #chldern | #parents | #schoolsafey

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