Once it became clear that a string of child abuse offences may have taken place across Melbourne for years undetected, and parents of 1200 children were contacted, it was obvious that there would be wider public consternation. Parents across the nation would have experienced a pang of doubt.

But childcare is not simply childcare. It is, as the federal government knows, a vital building block in the way modern Australian families live, and it underpins our economy. Put simply, parents cannot work productively unless they can outsource this care for part of the day.

The uproar surrounding the case of Joshua Dale Brown understandably has parents demanding immediate action.Credit: iStock

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made widened access to childcare a key part of his re-election pitch, and has introduced legislation to guarantee three days of subsidised early education and care universally, with talk of a flat-fee system as part of his second-term vision. His government has also pushed higher wages for those working in childcare.

But this week’s revelations of police investigations bring........

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