← All decisions

1. What was proposedJeremy HansonLiberal · Opposition
   Read the original wording (230 words)

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) on 22 July 2025, it was revealed that 77 of 92 ACT schools were “over budget” for the calendar year and would face significant challenges not mentioned in the Budget; (b) on 29 July 2025, the Minister announced a review into the management of ACT school budgets, which is to report early 2026; and (c) it has been brought to the attention of the Canberra Liberals that ACT schools have been told they must meet strict saving guidelines before that review is concluded, including that staff, teachers and programs are to be cut to make these savings if necessary; (2) further notes: (a) the Australian Education Union’s (AEU) public comments on 29 July 2025 that ACT principals are being urged to combine classes and cancel teacher contracts; (b) the reporting of The Canberra Times on 25 July 2025 that the principal of Telopea Park School emailed staff saying “excursions that are not focused on core learning needs will not be approved”; and (c) that given the disparity between the Education Minister’s statements and what is being reported by principals, the AEU and the media, there is concern and confusion about funding for public schools in the ACT; and (3) calls on the Government to guarantee there will be no cuts to teachers, support staff or programs in any ACT public school.

2. Proposed changeYvette BerryLabor · Minister2 September 2025

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point, added reporting or consultation.

   Before

   (3) calls on the Government to guarantee there will be no cuts to teachers, support staff or programs in any ACT public school.

   After this change

   (3) calls on the ACT Government to guarantee that in 2025 and 2026: (a) there will be no redundancies for permanent staff; (b) temporary staff will be retained where there are safety or other compliance requirements; (c) the transfer round will continue to ensure a strong and equitable public school system; (d) employment obligations will be met in all circumstances; and (e) where staff need to be reassigned to another school, consultation will occur.

   The exact wording of this change

   Omit paragraph (3), substitute: “(3) calls on the ACT Government to guarantee that in 2025 and 2026: (a) there will be no redundancies for permanent staff; (b) temporary staff will be retained where there are safety or other compliance requirements; (c) the transfer round will continue to ensure a strong and equitable public school system; (d) employment obligations will be met in all circumstances; and (e) where staff need to be reassigned to another school, consultation will occur.”. Debate continued.

   Not agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded.

3. Proposed changeLaura NuttallGreens · Crossbench2 September 2025

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point.

   The exact wording of this change

   In paragraph (3), add: “in either 2025 or 2026, including casual and temporary staff.”. Debate continued.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

4. Proposed changeThomas EmersonIndependent · Crossbench2 September 2025

   Noted falling enrolments and called for sufficient investment in schools. Our summary, review in progress

   The exact wording of this change

   to the motion, as amended, together: 1. Insert after paragraph (2)(c): “(d) insufficient investment in our public education system, including in relation to staffing and educational programs, risks accelerating the decline in public school enrolment in the ACT; and”. 2. Add: “(4) further calls on the Government to invest in our public education system sufficiently to arrest the decline in public school enrolment in the ACT”. Debate continued.

   Agreed in a recorded vote, 12 to 7. Its wording is in the final text.

   Ayes 12

   • Chiaka Barry, Jeremy Hanson, James Milligan, Peter Cain, Mark Parton, Leanne Castley
   • Andrew Braddock, Laura Nuttall, Shane Rattenbury, Jo Clay
   • Fiona Carrick, Thomas Emerson

   Noes 7

   • Yvette Berry, Tara Cheyne, Michael Pettersson, Chris Steel, Rachel Stephen-Smith, Caitlin Tough, Taimus Werner-Gibbings
5. What the Assembly decidedAgreed

   Decided on the voices: no individual votes were recorded, so this doesn’t show that every MLA agreed.

   Final agreed wording, with changes marked

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) on 22 July 2025, it was revealed that 77 of 92 ACT schools were “over budget” for the calendar year and would face significant challenges not mentioned in the Budget; (b) on 29 July 2025, the Minister announced a review into the management of ACT school budgets, which is to report early 2026; and (c) it has been brought to the attention of the Canberra Liberals that ACT schools have been told they must meet strict saving guidelines before that review is concluded, including that staff, teachers and programs are to be cut to make these savings if necessary; (2) further notes: (a) the Australian Education Union’s (AEU) public comments on 29 July 2025 that ACT principals are being urged to combine classes and cancel teacher contracts; (b) the reporting of The Canberra Times on 25 July 2025 that the principal of Telopea Park School emailed staff saying “excursions that are not focused on core learning needs will not be approved”; (c) that given the disparity between the Education Minister’s statements and what is being reported by principals, the AEU and the media, there is concern and confusion about funding for public schools in the ACT; and (d) insufficient investment in our public education system, including in relation to staffing and educational programs, risks accelerating the decline in public school enrolment in the ACT; (3) calls on the Government to guarantee there will be no cuts to teachers, support staff or programs in any ACT public school in either 2025 or 2026, including casual and temporary staffNuttall; and (4) further calls on the Government to invest in our public education system sufficiently to arrest the decline in public school enrolment in the ACTEmerson.

   Original and final wording compared

   taken out put in

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) on 22 July 2025, it was revealed that 77 of 92 ACT schools were “over budget” for the calendar year and would face significant challenges not mentioned in the Budget; (b) on 29 July 2025, the Minister announced a review into the management of ACT school budgets, which is to report early 2026; and (c) it has been brought to the attention of the Canberra Liberals that ACT schools have been told they must meet strict saving guidelines before that review is concluded, including that staff, teachers and programs are to be cut to make these savings if necessary; (2) further notes: (a) the Australian Education Union’s (AEU) public comments on 29 July 2025 that ACT principals are being urged to combine classes and cancel teacher contracts; (b) the reporting of The Canberra Times on 25 July 2025 that the principal of Telopea Park School emailed staff saying “excursions that are not focused on core learning needs will not be approved”; [taken out: and](c) that given the disparity between the Education Minister’s statements and what is being reported by principals, the AEU and the media, there is concern and confusion about funding for public schools in the ACT; and [put in: (d) insufficient investment in our public education system, including in relation to staffing and educational programs, risks accelerating the decline in public school enrolment in the ACT;](3) calls on the Government to guarantee there will be no cuts to teachers, support staff or programs in any ACT public school [put in: in either 2025 or 2026, including casual and temporary staff; and (4) further calls on the Government to invest in our public education system sufficiently to arrest the decline in public school enrolment in the ACT.]

   Compared word by word by computer, ignoring punctuation. It shows what differs, not which change made each difference; the steps above show that.