Education (General Provisions) Amendment Bill 2025
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
Referred to Education, Arts and Communities Committee
5 members · Chair: Nigel Hutton
The Education, Arts and Communities Committee examined the Education (General Provisions) Amendment Bill 2025 and recommended it be passed, with an additional recommendation regarding home education age eligibility. The bill's key reforms include removing the requirement for individual consent for each online service used by state schools, enabling principals to delegate the notification of suspension decisions to senior staff, and changes to home education provisions. The committee recommended further consideration of extending the age eligibility of students in home education by six months.
Key findings (4)
- The bill removes the requirement for individual parental consent for each third-party online service used by state schools, replacing it with a centralised approval framework
- State schools may use hundreds of online services at any one time, making individual consent processes burdensome
- The bill enables principals to delegate the notification of suspension decisions to senior staff such as deputy principals and heads of campus, while retaining the principal's responsibility for making the decision itself
- Stakeholders broadly supported the provisions enabling delegation of suspension notification
Recommendations (2)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
- The committee recommends further consideration around the extension of the age eligibility of students in home education by 6 months, to 31 December in the year the student turns 18 and 6 months.
▸14 members spoke10 support1 oppose3 mixed
As shadow education minister, criticised the seven-month delay in debating the bill and accused the government of reannouncing Labor initiatives, but supported the reforms.
“What a shame we have had to wait so long for education to be given some sort of priority in the legislative agenda of this government.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
As a former teacher, strongly supported the bill to address the 'drowning' and 'exhausted' state of teachers under the previous government and deliver reform for safety in schools.
“I am proud to be working with the education minister and the Crisafulli LNP government to change things for our teachers and our students because they deserve nothing less.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
As a committee member, supported the bill while noting it builds on the foundation laid by the former Labor government's record education funding.
“The bill before us today was introduced into the Queensland parliament on 6 March 2024 by the Hon. Di Farmer, the then minister for education and youth justice.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Supported the bill, particularly the child safety amendments bringing forward the Reportable Conduct Scheme. Noted many amendments reflect the former Labor government's proposals.
“Queensland children deserve every protection from child abuse and exploitation. The Reportable Conduct Scheme is designed to do just that—protect children from harm.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill and praised the education minister, defending the red tape reduction policy after ten years of Labor inaction.
“Minister Langbroek is a terrific asset to the Department of Education and I say to the minister... if he keeps up this work he will be regarded as one of the best education ministers this state has ever seen.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Supported the bill while highlighting Labor's free kindy initiative and the importance of early childhood education in determining school readiness.
“Free kindy, which our government was so proud to introduce, allows Queensland parents to access 15 hours of free education for a kindergarten-age child.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill as delivering relief from red tape for teachers, including her own daughter and son-in-law who are teachers.
“This bill delivers relief, it delivers reform and it delivers on our government's promise to reduce red tape and restore trust and autonomy to our educators.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Supported the bill but noted it closely mirrors the former Labor government's lapsed bill. Questioned the omission of behaviour management provisions.
“This bill closely mirrors the Education (General Provisions) Amendment Bill previously introduced by the former Labor government which lapsed upon the dissolution of the 57th Parliament.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill to reduce red tape for teachers and school administrators who are under serious pressure.
“We all know that our teachers and school administrators are being pushed to the limit by the cumbersome regulations they are currently forced to endure.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
As a former teacher, supported education reform while emphasising Labor's investment in new schools in the fast-growing Logan region.
“I recognise that education is a transformational experience. It was transformational in my life but especially transformational in the lives of my mother and father.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill's reforms to reduce regulatory burden, particularly around online service approvals which had become incredibly burdensome.
“The Crisafulli government is committed to reducing Labor's monumental red tape and regulatory burden on our hardworking Queensland educators.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Criticised the bill as copying Labor's homework with only minor changes, falling short of the promised 25 per cent red tape reduction for teachers.
“They have made a couple of minor changes, hoping the teachers would not notice and crossing their fingers for a passing grade.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill to remove administrative minutiae and allow teachers to reconnect with their passion for teaching.
“If we can somehow as a state remove the minutiae from that job and allow our teachers to reconnect with their passion, to bring that passion into the classroom, then I think there are better days ahead for Queensland.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Criticised the bill for failing to address teachers' real concerns about occupational violence and classroom support, noting teachers' historic strike action.
“Teachers deserve better pay and working conditions for the work they do, but the education minister is not listening. He was the first education minister in 16 years to have strike action taken against him.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill reforms Queensland's Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 to reduce administrative burden on schools and families while strengthening student safety. It makes transfer notes mandatory when students move between schools, implements recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and streamlines processes for online learning platforms, home education, special schools, and P&C Associations.
Who it affects
Families with school-aged children will see changes to how information is shared when students move schools. Parents will deal with fewer consent forms for online learning, while home education families can continue registration until age 18. P&C Associations gain new flexibility to support disaster-affected schools.
Key changes
- Transfer notes become mandatory when students move between Queensland schools, with principals required to share safety-related information within 90 days
- Department of Education can approve online learning platforms centrally, removing need for individual parental consent while maintaining opt-out rights
- Home education registration extended to 31 December in the year a student turns 18
- P&C Associations can donate funds and resources to schools affected by natural disasters
- Multi-campus schools like Tagai State College can form separate P&C Associations for each campus
- Persons convicted of indictable offences barred from P&C executive committees and subcommittees
- Special school transfers streamlined - principals can enrol students directly without chief executive approval
- eKindy distance eligibility clarified as 16km from an approved kindergarten program, with medical eligibility expanded to cover cumulative absences