Legislation passed by the Northern Territory CLP government means a backward step on teacher regulation in the Territory.
Despite more than 1,000 teachers and community members raising concerns, the government proceeded with merging the Teacher Registration Board (TRB) and NT Board of Studies (NTBOS) and removing their mandatory representational structure.
The Education Standards and Registration Board Bill 2026 passed through the Legislative Assembly on 13 October after the government voted against amendments to retain a mandatory representational structure within the new board.
Mandatory representation ensured quality oversight
For over 20 years, these boards provided mandatory seats for teacher, parent and principal representatives and ensured that teachers had a voice on registration, curriculum and disciplinary matters.
The new merged board will be composed of at least seven members, all appointed at ministerial discretion.
While the government must consider the need for a balanced skill mix within the board, there is no requirement for teachers to be represented.
Teacher regulation authorities are tasked with making important decisions on a range of matters including:
- Regulating teacher standards.
- Granting, restricting or revoking a teacher’s registration.
- Overseeing employers’ ability to employ unregistered persons as teachers.
- Developing curriculum, assessment and testing.
- Undertaking data collection and reporting.
- Accrediting initial teacher education courses.
In all other states and territories, either registered teachers or those with teaching experience must be represented on the relevant registration authority and have a say on these matters.
Teachers can be silenced under changes
IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said the changes allow teachers to be silenced and risk a regulatory board disconnected from the reality of classrooms and schools.
“Many teachers and members of school communities in the NT will be disappointed with the government’s actions,” Mr Burke said.
“It’s important to remember that teachers’ registration fees fund the registration board; they deserve to have a voice on an authority they fund.
“The previous system worked very effectively to ensure the complex education landscape of the NT was understood and supported by the regulatory boards.
“It is now up to the government to ensure that appointees to the new merged board can continue that legacy of providing quality oversight of the NT education system,” Mr Burke said.
Broad opposition to the plan
Our union and the Australian Education Union Northern Territory (AEU NT) raised concerns with the bill at every step of the consultation process, including through a joint parliamentary submission.
IEU-QNT and AEU NT also signed a collective parliamentary submission alongside the Association of Independent Schools of the Northern Territory (AISNT), Catholic Education Northern Territory (CENT), the Northern Territory Principals’ Association (NTPA) and the Professional Teachers’ Association of the Northern Territory (PTANT).
The new board is expected to operate from early 2027.
