Some childcare centres in Australia are so understaffed that children are left alone for hours. Other centres spend less than a dollar a day on feeding them.

Yet the industry receives billions in public subsidies and dodgy centres are allowed to keep operating even after serious breaches.

What’s emerging is a picture of a broken childcare system – one where regulators aren’t doing their job and no one is held to account.

Today, NSW Greens MLC Abigail Boyd on what she uncovered about the horrific abuse unfolding in Australian childcare centres – and why we are allowing the pursuit of profit over safety.

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Guest: NSW Greens MLC and chair of the Inquiry into the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in NSW Abigail Boyd

Photo: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

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Back in 2023, Australia’s top court made a landmark ruling: it was against the law for the Australian government to indefinitely hold people in immigration detention.

That ruling had massive implications for our country’s border policies. It overturned 20 years of precedent – and it led to the release of people into the community who had been held in immigration detention after having their visas cancelled – but weren’t able to return to their home country.

After that, the Albanese government struck a controversial deal with Nauru, worth $2.5 billion. The tiny island nation would be paid to settle the detainees in exchange for money over a 30-year period.

This week we learned the deal has now begun – at least one person has now been deported to Nauru.

Today, journalist Denham Sadler, on the former immigration detainees Australia is now deporting – and whether offloading them to Nauru is a breach of our legal obligations.

This episode was first published in September.

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Guest: Journalist, Denham Sadler

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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Murray Watt has talked a big game about fixing our environment laws by the end of the year.

But this week, the government’s attempt to do that fell apart – with the crossbench and Coalition senators refusing to back the changes.

At the same time, Labor faced a dramatic revolt in the Senate over its refusal to release a secret report meant to fix the culture of cronyism – and jobs for mates.

Having campaigned on restoring integrity to government, Labor is now facing a Senate demanding it live up to that promise.

Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton, on why it’s so hard to fix our environment laws – and whether the government’s hubris is getting in the way of its promise for greater transparency.

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

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Guest: Press gallery journalist Karen Middleton

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.