6 October 2026
The Finocchiaro CLP Government continues to hold parents to account for their children's school attendance as School Attendance Officers crackdown on parents of serial truants.
In term 3, 2026, 385 parents were referred for income management, with the Federal Government accepting 208 referrals.
School attendance for term 3, 2026, has increased by +1.0pp compared to term 3, 2025.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is continuing to crackdown on parents of serial truants who continually fail to send their children to school.
Department of Education and Training attendance statisti herecs, reveal school attendance has increased from 71.7% in term 3, 2025, to 72.7% in term 3, 2026.
In term 3, 2026, 385 parents of serial truants who continually break the law and fail to send their children to school were referred by the Department of Education and Training for income management, with the Federal Government accepting 208 of those referrals.
Over the same period, School Attendance Officers issued 579 compliance notices and 176 fines.
Minister for Education and Training, Jo Hersey, said to address the root causes of crime, children need to get back to school and on a better path.
"I make no apologies for referring parents who deprive their child access to education for income management," Minister Hersey said.
"Every child, no matter where they are in the Territory, has the right to a quality education.
"I know there is a long way to go to increase school attendance after 8 years of decline and secret lists under Labor.
"We have to be honest about the challenges we face, not hide them from the public, and the CLP Government will continue to strive to increase school attendance and boost literacy and numeracy by getting our schools back to basics."
Member for Karama, Brian O'Gallagher, said while the increase in school attendance is positive, there is still more work to do.
"The Finocchiaro CLP Government has introduced a range of new initiatives to keep children engaged at school such as more trade training opportunities at Sanderson High School in Darwin's Northern Suburbs and placing Aboriginal Liaison Officers in schools," Mr O'Gallagher said.
"I am delighted to see an Aboriginal Liaison Officer is now at the Top End School of Flexible Learning, to promote school attendance and support wellbeing activities to students re-engaging through the flexible learning program."
