Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL 2002

(This an uncorrected proof of the daily report. It is made available under the condition that it is recognised as such.)

Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.

The purpose of this bill is to amend the Education Act to alter the provisions of the act in relation to the Northern Territory Board of Studies to change the functions, the size and the composition of the Board. It is intended that the bill will also alter the provisions of the act in relation to the Education Advisory Council to include an immunity clause for council members and to reinstate the Australian Education Union’s membership of the Education Advisory Council.

The changes to the act seek to redefine the Northern Territory Board of Studies functions and composition to reflect the restructuring of the department’s curriculum functions, assessment and certification practices by: focussing on a deliberative and consultative role of the board; guaranteeing the independence of the chair; requiring the board to report jointly to the minister and Chief Executive Officer to enhance the openness of the board’s operations; ensuring expert and independent advice as provided to the minister and is representative of the board’s views rather those of the department; and decreasing the number of representatives on the board from the current 21 to 16.

Prior to the then Department of Education’s 1999 review of the curriculum assessment and certification operations, the board’s responsibilities ranged from developing and implementing policy relating to curriculum and assessment to the issuing of certificates at the end of senior secondary schooling. Subsequent to the review, the board’s primary responsibility is now the provision of strategic advice on curriculum policy to government underpinned by advice from a broad range of stakeholders. The revised structure balances the need for a more workable overall size with that of ensuring quality expert and stakeholder input.

The intention is that advice put to the minister and the chief executive on curriculum and certification issues will reflect the concerns and capabilities of the key stakeholders in education, particularly indigenous and non-indigenous parents and industry and employer bodies. The independence of the chair will ensure that advice delivered to both the chief executive and the minister is fearless and truly representative.

The proposed changes to the act in regard to the Education Advisory Council are less wide-ranging than those affecting the Board of Studies. These will include the representation of the Australian Education Union to fulfil the government’s commitment under the 2001 Enterprise Bargaining Agreement to have the union reinstated as a member of the council. The proposed changes to correct obsolete or defunct organisations or Commonwealth department’s names is simply a matter of housekeeping.

By including an immunity clause in the act, members of these statutory bodies will be protected from being held personally liable in respect of bona fide actions as members of these bodies. It is a routine inclusion that appears in other acts of parliament.

I commend the bill to honourable members.

Debate adjourned.

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