The Northern Territory government's plan for a radical shakeup of teacher regulation risks undermining community confidence in the quality of NT schools.
A chorus of stakeholders has raised concerns over the Education Standards and Registration Board Bill 2026 which was released with just five business days for consultation.
The bill seeks to combine the existing Teacher Registration Board and Board of Studies into one board composed of just seven handpicked ministerial appointees.
The move would put a question mark around oversight of teacher registration and the investigation of disciplinary matters against teachers.
Quotes attributable to Terry Burke – Branch Secretary, IEU-QNT:
"This bill should concern every parent of a school-aged child in the Northern Territory," Mr Burke said.
"The organisations charged with the important duty of monitoring the quality of school staff will be operating with less oversight and fewer resources – that can only lead to a poorer education system.
"The government has not adequately explained what was wrong with the existing two board structure where seats are provided to teacher, principal and parent representatives alongside other stakeholders.
"The removal of mandatory representation allows teachers to be silenced in favour of a board entirely disconnected from the reality of classrooms and schools.
"This is a plan with no purpose other than weakening a system in no need of fixing.
"And if it was such a well-devised plan, surely the government would have allowed more than five days of scrutiny on the final bill," Mr Burke said.
Quotes attributable to Brian Gray – President, AEU NT:
"These radical changes put the independence of the Teacher Registration Board at risk," Mr Gray said.
"They open up important decisions about children's education to political interference.
"Every other state and territory in Australia has an independent board or a statutory authority to oversee matters as important as teacher registration.
"For 20 years, the representational structure of the board has guaranteed its independence. This bill puts that at risk.
"There is no requirement under the bill for any practising teachers to be on the new board.
"This is a government take-over of what should be a professional body, run by teachers, funded by teachers' registration fees, to regulate the teaching profession.
"To call this a move to a 'skills-based' board is an insult to the skilled and knowledgeable members of the board and the teacher, principal, parent and school organisations that have nominated them," Mr Gray said.
Background
Teachers, principals and employers have raised the alarm over the bill through their representative organisations:
- Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory Branch (IEU-QNT)
- Australian Education Union Northern Territory (AEU NT)
- Association of Independent Schools Northern Territory (AISNT)
- Catholic Education Northern Territory (CENT)
- Northern Territory Principals' Association (NTPA)
- Professional Teachers Association of the Northern Territory (PTANT)
The IEU-QNT and the AEU NT have made a joint parliamentary submission outlining key concerns with the bill.
The education unions also signed a collective parliamentary submission alongside the AISNT, CENT, NTPA and PTANT.
If the bill is passed, the reforms would operate from February 2027.
About us:
The Independent Education Union and Australian Education Union represent thousands of teachers across non-government and public schools.
