‘No stone should be left unturned’: Palaszczuk pushes for childcare investigation

The Queensland Premier will call for a federal inquiry into how a man was able to work in childcare centres for years before his alleged offending was discovered.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will write to the federal government pushing for a full inquiry into how a man was able to work in childcare centres for years before his alleged sexual assaults on young girls in those centres was discovered.

Speaking at a media event in Townsville, Ms Palaszczuk said she won’t be commenting on the alleged offending until the court case is done to avoid jeopardising the course of justice.

“I will be writing to the prime minister,” she said.

“I believe once the court case is concluded there needs to be a thorough investigation and no stone should be left unturned.

“(The investigation) should absolutely involve both Queensland and New South Wales. We will offer our full support for any inquiry the Federal Government would seek to do.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture Glenn Hampson

This follows calls by the New South Wales government for an urgent meeting of state and federal ministers to demand better sharing of child protection data across jurisdictions.

It is alleged a 45-year-old Gold Coast man raped and abused 91 girls in childcare centres for 15 years without detection. He is alleged to commit more than 1600 offences at 10 Brisbane childcare centres, as well as one centre in Sydney and another overseas.

According to police, the allegations only came to light after videos he allegedly created of the girls were found on the dark web.

The Australian Federal Police were able to identify items in the videos which led them back to a Brisbane childcare centre, a spokesman claimed.

The childcare worker was arrested on August 20, 2022, and a search of his phone and electronic devices allegedly uncovered thousands more pictures of sexual abuse.

Originally published as ‘No stone should be left unturned’: Palaszczuk pushes for childcare investigation