G8 Education CEO defends bonuses amid safety concerns and calls for increased transparency in childcare sector.

G8 Education CEO Pejman Okhovat received a $3.3 million package last year, with less than half being a base salary. The company has faced criticism for its safety record, with breaches increasing 70% since being acquired by Quadrant Private Equity in 2021. Parents and children advocacy group Early Childhood Australia wants increased transparency about incidents and a reduced ratio of for-profit centers. Legislation introduced to state parliament will give regulators more power to require centers to display information about investigations and increase penalties for non-compliance.