Reform Bills To Be Debated

A bill which reforms part of the education system is set to be debated after Question Time today.

The Education Amendment Bill (No 2) is scheduled to receive its first reading this afternoon.

Amongst other things it establishes the Education Council as the new professional body to lead and promote quality teaching, and as a consequence disestablishes the Teachers Council. In addition, the bill also makes changes to the regulatory framework for teaching and to the disciplinary regime for teachers.

The bill also changes the governance structures for tertiary institutions, a move which has already galvanized significant controversy in the sector.

Following this MPs will turn to the first reading of the Health and Safety Reform Bill.

The legislation is billed by the Government as the biggest health and safety reforms in 20 years intended to play a major role in meeting a target of reducing workplace injury and death toll by 25 per cent by 2020.

The bill will put more onus and legal requirements on managers and company directors to manage risks and keep their workers safe. It will also establish stronger penalties, enforcement tools, graduated offence categories and court powers.

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