Page 1018 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 May 2020
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Three new sections—84A, 88AA and 153B—allow the minister to provide an extension to schools so that their registration is covered and that school principals and school boards can be protected against any accusation of not meeting the Education Act’s requirements in respect of such things as student enrolment and attendance, classroom lesson delivery, compulsory education age, and keeping of registers. The new sections will come into effect by way of disallowable instruments that have the ability to be extended to sunset in 12 months or earlier, with the expiry of the COVID-19 emergency.
The Canberra Liberals have no issues with these new sections, except to flag a minor point that the amendments do not remove the right of a parent to keep their child at home without risk of penalty in current circumstances. In any reasonable circumstance, a parent’s excuse for doing so would be acceptable. However, I hope these additional powers under this disallowable instrument give some certainty that a parent who chooses to keep their child at home during the COVID-19 emergency will not fall foul of the Education Act.
At the same time, with the announcement in the Canberra Times this morning that schools will be reopening for face-to-face education, it is appropriate that all requirements under the Education Act, including attendance requirements, become applicable to its normal operation as soon as possible. I have consulted with the non-government schools sector—I understand the government has done the same—and they, too, are comfortable with and understanding of the need for these measures during the COVID-19 emergency.
Given the rapidly changing direction for schools, the 12-month sunset appears likely not to be needed, with the removal of an ACT-wide health emergency under which these amendments apply likely to occur perhaps—perhaps—sooner. We all hope that in the ACT and, indeed, across Australia we can return to normal school life, but it must be firmly based on expert medical advice and with the rights of our children’s education, development and wellbeing front and centre.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (4.56): I thought I would take the opportunity to speak briefly on the amendments proposed for the Retirement Villages Act 2012. During these difficult and unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to ensure that our older Canberrans, our senior Canberrans, are protected and assisted as much as possible.
Seniors in our Canberra community are resilient and they have faced tough circumstances many times in the past. But it is important, from the territory government perspective, that everything is being done to keep seniors healthy and in good spirits and to keep their living arrangements, including their relationship with their retirement villages, in good order.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put significant pressure on retirement villages and their continued efforts to keep their residents safe. I would like to thank all the retirement and aged-care village personnel in Canberra who are working during this pandemic to assist their residents.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video