Page 2943 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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musical community of its finest musical space, but will forever destroy the acoustic properties of the building and its future availability for musical performances.
Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly to request that the ACT Government find another location for the print shop and gallery, and reserve the Fitters Workshop in perpetuity as a multi-purpose arts space that retains its splendid acoustic properties.
The Clerk having announced that the terms of the petition would be recorded in Hansard and a copy referred to the appropriate minister for response pursuant to standing order 100, the petition was received.
ACT Teacher Quality Institute Amendment Bill 2011
Mr Barr, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (10.07): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
In December 2010 the Assembly passed the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 which established the ACT Teacher Quality Institute.
The government want all young people in the ACT to be equipped with the skills to lead fulfilling lives through a quality education delivered by quality teachers. And this is why we have established the ACT Teacher Quality Institute, which began operations this year, to work with teachers in all schools—public, independent and Catholic. The institute will ensure standards of teachers in ACT schools are upheld and that professional development is promoted. The key initial function of the Teacher Quality Institute is to register or give a permit to teach to all teachers working or seeking to work in ACT schools.
An essential element of teacher registration and granting of a permit to teach is the assessment of the criminal history of the applicants in order to determine their fitness to teach in the ACT. The Spent Convictions Act 2000 allows for the assessment of spent convictions when an applicant is seeking employment in certain professions. These professions include the judiciary, police or prison service or anyone involved in teaching, childcare or health services.
Currently the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 does not allow for the assessment of spent convictions, and this is why I am bringing this amendment before the Assembly today. The passing of this amendment will allow for the assessment of spent convictions in the criminal history checks for teachers wishing to be registered as a teacher or seeking a permit to teach in ACT schools. It is important to bring the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 into line with the Spent Convictions Act 2000.
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