Teachers Registration and Standards (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill

Final Stages

The Legislative Council agreed to the bill with the amendments indicated by the following schedule, to which amendments the Legislative Council desires the concurrence of the House of Assembly:

No. 1. Clause 7, page 5, lines 4 to 19 [clause 7, inserted section 9(1) and (2)]—Delete inserted subsections (1) and (2) and substitute:

(1) The Teachers Registration Board consists of not less than 11 and not more than 14 members appointed by the Governor of whom—

(a) at least 6 must be practising teachers, of whom—

(i) at least 4 must be nominated by the Australian Education Union (S.A. Branch); and

(ii) at least 2 must be nominated by the Independent Education Union (S.A. Branch); and

(b) at least 1 must be a person nominated jointly by the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia Incorporated and Catholic Education SA; and

(c) at least 1 must be a person employed in the field of teacher education nominated jointly by the universities in the State; and

(d) at least 1 must be a person nominated by the Chief Executive of the Department; and

(e) the remaining members are members nominated by the Minister, of whom—

(i) at least 1 must be a legal practitioner; and

(ii) 1 must be a parent of a school student appointed to represent the community interest.

(2) At least half of the members appointed under subsection (1) must be registered teachers.

No. 2. Clause 7, page 5, after line 34 [clause 7, inserted section 9]—Insert:

(5a) The Minister must ensure, as far as practicable, that the persons appointed under subsection (1) consist of equal numbers of women and men.

No. 3. Clause 8, page 6, lines 10 to 27 [clause 8(2)]—Delete subclause (2)

No. 4. Clause 15, page 8, after line 24 [clause 15, inserted Part 3A]—Insert:

19B—Teachers Registration Board to survey teachers

(1) The Teachers Registration Board must, at least once in every 5 year period and in accordance with any requirements set out in the regulations, conduct a survey of registered teachers in this State to ascertain their views on—

(a) the curriculum for initial teacher education in this State; and

(b) the quality and effectiveness of initial teacher education in this State generally.

(2) On completion of a survey under this section, the Teachers Registration Board must prepare a report on the results of the survey and provide a copy of the report to the Minister.

(3) The Minister must, within 12 sitting days after receiving a report under subsection (2), have copies of the report laid before both Houses of Parliament.

(4) Nothing in this section requires a teacher to take part in a survey conducted under this section (and, to avoid doubt, a teacher cannot be compelled to do so).

No. 5. Clause 20, page 9, after line 37 [clause 20, inserted section 26A]—Insert:

(2a) Without limiting any other circumstances in which the Teachers Registration Board may reduce or waive an annual fee under this section, if a teacher pays the annual fee in advance in relation to the full term of their registration period, the Teachers Registration Board must cause the amount payable to be reduced by at least 5%.

No. 6. Clause 26, page 12, lines 21 and 22 [clause 26, inserted section 31B(1)]—Delete 'or adopt codes of conduct and professional standards (or both)' and substitute 'codes of conduct'

No. 7. Clause 26, page 12, after line 22 [clause 26, inserted section 31B]—Insert:

(1a) Sections 10 (other than subsection (1)) and 10A of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1978 apply in relation to a code of conduct published under this section (and a reference in those provisions to a regulation will be taken to be a reference to the code of conduct).

Note—

These provisions allow Parliament to disallow a code of conduct.

No. 8. Clause 26, page 12, line 25 [clause 26, inserted section 31B(2)]—Delete 'or adopted'

No. 9. Clause 26, page 12, after line 25 [clause 26, inserted section 31B]—Insert:

(2a) Before publishing a code of conduct under this section, the Teachers Registration Board—

(a) must call for submissions from—

(i) registered teachers; and

(ii) the Australian Education Union (S.A. Branch); and

(iii) the Independent Education Union (S.A. Branch); and

(iv) the Chief Executive of the Department; and

(v) Catholic Education SA; and

(vi) the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia Incorporated; and

(b) must have regard to any submissions made by a person or body referred to in paragraph (a) during the period specified by the Teachers Registration Board (being a period not less than 1 month); and

(c) must consult with—

(i) the Australian Education Union (S.A. Branch); and

(ii) the Independent Education Union (S.A. Branch); and

(iii) the Chief Executive of the Department; and

(iv) Catholic Education SA; and

(v) the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia Incorporated,

and may consult with any other person or body the Teachers Registration Board thinks fit.

No. 10. Clause 26, page 12, line 26 [clause 26, inserted section 31B(3)]—Delete 'or adopted'

At 17:53 the house adjourned until Thursday 2 July 2020 at 11:00.