LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MUST STOP OR AMEND THEM
The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has discussed problems with the Tasmanian Education Bill 2016, currently before the Legislative Council.
“The proposed Tasmanian education reforms are flawed and the package needs to be stopped in its tracks or sent back to the drawing board,” Mr Wilkie said. “This is not just about the school starting age and it’s unfortunate that the focus on this one aspect has distracted the community from other measures in the Bill.
“For instance the Bill before the Tasmanian Parliament at the moment includes coercive powers for ‘authorised persons’, unreasonable mandatory disclosure of information about students by other persons, and the option of punitive measures being imposed on parents.
“In other words a departmental officer could forcibly escort a youth to his or her home against their will. A doctor, or at least a parent, could be forced to disclose confidential medical information. And a parent could be fined for the behaviour of their child.
“These concerns have already been raised by the Australian Lawyers Alliance. I urge MLC’s to either stop the Bill in its tracks, or to substantially amend it.
“There’s no need to rush such important changes. If these education measures are truly a once in a generation reform, as the Government claims, then we need to get it right.”
“The State Government has already made devastating cuts to schools. Tasmania has some of the worst education statistics in Australia. The system needs to be made better, not worse.”
Andrew Wilkie, Independent MP for Denison
