Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House our concerns with proposed changes to home education contained in the Education (General Provisions) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024.

Your petitioners draw attention to a lack of genuine consultation in preparation of this Bill, lacking understanding of the varying reasons why families home educate and a lack of acknowledgment that we already provide our children with a high-quality education.

Your petitioners strongly object to the following proposed amendments in the Bill:

1. Clause 18: introduces a new two-part guiding principle (s.7(da)) to govern home education:

a. To be provided in a way that is in “the best interests of the child or young person taking into account their safety and wellbeing”, without defining the meaning of these terms, or the means of assessing those conditions; and without providing what new powers may be created and given to a government body to enforce these conditions;

AND

b. “high-quality education”, now defined exclusively as one consistent with the Australian curriculum.

2. Clause 68: introduces new requirements of standard conditions of home education, including teaching the Australian curriculum and additional annual reporting obligations.

3. Clause 64: redefining provisional registration, requiring the inclusion of a full teaching plan and all other documents with the application for registration to be accepted.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House reject these proposed amendments and conduct appropriate further consultation with the home school community.