Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move Greens amendment (3) on sheet 5656:

(3)    Schedule 1, item 6, page 5 (after line 26), after the heading to division 1, insert:

124AB Interpretation of notice requirements

                 Despite any other provision in this Part:

             (a)    any notice given by the Secretary to a schooling requirement person in accordance with this Part must be in plain English or in the language of the person;

             (b)    where a period of time is determined under this Part by reference to the giving of a notice to a person, the period of time does not commence until:

                   (i)    the notice is received by the person; and

                  (ii)    the person has had an opportunity to meet with Centrelink staff.

This amendment is about notice requirements and interpretations of notice requirements. The amendment will ensure that a notice given by the secretary is in plain English or in the language of the person. Quite a lot of this legislation is based on ensuring that parents and the people involved know exactly what is going on. This amendment is about ensuring that notices are given in plain, easy to understand English or, where more appropriate, in the language of that particular person. When you consider that this legislation is largely targeted at Aboriginal communities—in particular, six communities in the Northern Territory as well as Aboriginal communities in Cannington, where there are also large culturally and linguistically diverse communities as a result of there being a lot of refugees living there—it is appropriate that the notices be given to people in a language that is appropriate.

Question negatived.

Bill agreed to.

Bill reported without amendment; report adopted.