When a non-government school seeks to change its registration details, a 60-day consultation period is currently mandated under the Education Act 2004. Education Minister Yvette Berry introduced a bill seeking to reduce the consultation period to “a shorter period approved by the Minister” when satisfied that it is reasonably necessary to do so in the circumstances.

This amendment was introduced to enable the swift appointment of a new proprietor for Brindabella Christian College, which is currently under administration. However, the shorter consultation period in the bill would have extended to any changes to any non-government school registration where deemed necessary by the Minister. 

While Thomas strongly supported the Government’s efforts to ensure the viability of Brindabella Christian College and to prevent disruption to its students, he was not comfortable with the broad application of this amendment and the fact that it did not specify any minimum consultation period or provide a definition of reasonable circumstances for cutting the consultation requirement. School community members had also expressed their concern that an inappropriate proprietor could be agreed to if insufficient consultation occurred. 

The Greens proposed an amendment requiring a minimum of seven days’ consultation, and causing the entire amendment to expire at the end of the year given the urgency of the matter, preventing its use in future circumstances unrelated to Brindabella Christian College.

The Greens’ amendment received unanimous support and the amended bill passed on the voices.