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This new regulation is set to encompass independent, government, and Catholic schools across the entire region.
The initiative grants the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) the authority to mandate schools to address any reported concerns and even dismiss teachers who are deemed to have violated the conduct code.
“We all agree that schools must be safe environments,” stated Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car.
She described the measure as a “common-sense change” and noted it would not affect the majority of schools.
Premier Minns echoed this sentiment, affirming that the overwhelming majority of educators in the state are committed to their profession for the right reasons.
He denied it was an attack on freedom of speech, and said it would not forbid the discussion of issues like the Gaza invasion in classrooms.
Nor, he said, would religious schools face any new limits on quoting religious texts – unless the person quoting those texts was doing so in order to publicly incite racial hatred.
Meanwhile, the government today will also introduce legislation to strengthen powers councils have to deal with illegally-operated prayer halls, including enhanced shutdown powers.
”This legislation will mean the penalties are severe and the actions the council can take are decisive,” Minns said.
“Everybody has to do their bit, and this is just one area or change we can progress in order to keep the public safe.”
Councils will also be directed to consult with police on receipt of any development application for a place of public worship – already a common step, but one which will be formalised.
Planning Minister Paul Scully said penalties for individuals and corporations who breached public worship laws would also be doubled.
The announcements came ahead of the scheduled visit to Australia and New South Wales by Israeli President Isaac Herzog next week.
Herzog is likely to visit Bondi and meet members of the Jewish community targeted in the December 14 terror attack that killed 15 people.
Minns said senior members of the government had been in talks with police in the lead-up to the event.
While he didn’t go into details – saying instead Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon was likely to make an announcement soon – he indicated protest restrictions would likely be in place during Herzog’s visit.
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