30 October 2025
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (12:51): I rise to very briefly indicate my support for the Education and Children's Services (Inclusive Education) Amendment Bill. Other members have talked about the genesis of this bill and therefore I will not traverse that similar territory. What I will say is that members will know that I have been an advocate for more transparency within the school system. I see this as being a move in the right direction.
I would, of course, like to go further. Members might recall that I had a bill before parliament, which was opposed by Labor and the Liberals, which would have subjected private schools to the same reporting requirements as public schools. I do think that is a important transparency measure. In fact, I often have people with children within the private school system speak to me about the fact that issues within that school system are being covered up or not appropriately addressed.
I think improving transparency across the board within the private school system would be a really worthwhile endeavour, and that is a matter that I intend to pursue again in the new parliament. However, that said, I think this bill, with the increased transparency that it brings towards children with disability and special needs, is really welcome.
I might use this opportunity to speak very briefly to my amendment that I will move in the committee stage. The amendment is very straightforward. It requires there to be a review that is completed before the third anniversary of the commencement of the bill. I think one of the benefits of that amendment is that it would provide an opportunity for us to again look into how this bill is working in practice and see whether there are potential gaps that need to be plugged.
I note the amendments that have been flagged by the Hon. Tammy Franks. I have an open mind to those amendments and I will listen closely to the debate in the committee stage.