Victorian government denies ‘highly irresponsible’ report, says no child has tested positive to STD

The Victorian government has denied what it has labelled a ‘highly irresponsible’ Daily Mail report that a child caught up in the Victorian childcare crisis had been infected with a sexually transmitted disease.

Joshua Brown.

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The Victorian government has denied what it has labelled a “highly irresponsible” Daily Mail report that a child caught up in the Victorian daycare crisis had been infected with a sexually transmitted disease.

Daily Mail Australia reported on Tuesday that a child who attended a Point Cook daycare centre worked at by alleged pedophile Joshua Brown – who has been charged with 73 child sex offences – had tested positive to gonorrhoea.

Authorities had recommended about 2000 children be tested for infectious diseases in the wake of the allegations against Mr Brown, who worked at 24 childcare centres across Victoria.

However, on Wednesday Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said no child had tested positive to an STD.

“This article that has been written by the Daily Mail is highly inappropriate,” he said.

“I know the Department of Health have been trying to reach out to the author of this article, and we … ask that this article be brought down. It is highly insensitive to families.”

A Victorian Department of Health spokesperson also confirmed the article was incorrect.

“The Daily Mail’s reporting is not only incorrect but highly irresponsible and only adds unnecessary stress on already traumatised parents,” the spokesperson said. “We will not make any further comment on individual cases.”

Last week Victorian chief health officer Christian McGrath said test results received to date reaffirmed that the potential exposure risk to an infectious disease for children was low.

The department confirmed Dr McGrath’s advice remained unchanged as of Wednesday.

The Daily Mail Australia’s editor, Felicity Hetherington, defended the article, which remained online as of Wednesday afternoon.

“As the article states, it is based on information provided by sources close to the investigation,” Hetherington said.

“The article will be also updated to include Mr Carroll’s comments.”

Victoria Police are continuing to investigate Mr Brown, who was charged earlier this month with 73 child sex offences allegedly committed against eight children aged between five months and two years at Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook in Melbourne’s west.