Western Australia is facing mounting criticism for being the only state or territory yet to adopt nationally consistent Working with Children Check (WWCC) reforms, leaving a loophole that experts warn could allow individuals banned elsewhere in Australia to obtain clearance in WA.
Every other jurisdiction has already implemented the “banned in one, banned in all” model, with the ACT passing its legislation in December and the Northern Territory following in early February. WA, however, remains the lone outlier.
A spokesperson for the WA government said the reform had been expedited, but after being introduced to parliament in December, it stalled in the upper house. Debate is now on hold until a committee report is delivered in early May. Despite the delay, the government insists it is still on track to meet national deadlines for harmonised WWCC standards.
Child‑safety advocates have condemned the slow progress, calling the gap in WA’s laws “shameful” and warning that it exposes children to unnecessary risk. Under current legislation, a person denied a WWCC in any other state could still apply for and potentially receive one in Western Australia.
Once the reforms finally pass, WA will align with the rest of the country, ensuring that anyone barred from working with children anywhere in Australia is automatically barred in WA as well.
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