Hundreds of Northern Territory teachers and supporters are calling on the government to reconsider proposed changes to teacher registration and education oversight.
More than 300 people signed a joint IEU-QNT and AEU NT petition within 24 hours, according to the unions. The petition seeks the withdrawal, reconsideration or amendment of the Education Standards and Registration Board Bill 2026.
The legislation would merge the Teacher Registration Board and Northern Territory Board of Studies into a single Education Standards and Registration Board. The unions oppose the proposed governance structure, arguing it would remove guaranteed representation for teachers and other education stakeholders.
The NT Government has presented the changes differently, saying they would reduce duplication and strengthen governance. Its review of the two education boards recommended establishing a single independent statutory board with a skills-based membership model.
Unions question proposed board structure
Under the bill, the new board would have seven members appointed by the minister. The unions argue this differs significantly from the existing representative structure, which provides places for teachers, principals, parents and other stakeholders.
IEU-QNT branch secretary Terry Burke said the proposed changes could reduce professional representation in decisions affecting schools and teachers.
“This bill should concern every parent of a school-aged child in the Northern Territory. The organisations charged with the important duty of monitoring the quality of school staff will be operating with less oversight and fewer resources—that can only lead to a poorer education system,” Burke said.
The union’s concerns centre on the size and composition of the new board, as well as the removal of guaranteed representation for teachers, principals, parents and unions. Under the bill, union representatives would no longer be guaranteed a place on the board, despite teacher registration fees helping fund its operations.
“This is a plan with no purpose other than weakening a system in no need of fixing,” Burke said.
Questions about registration and professional oversight have broader implications for the Australian teaching workforce. Registration bodies oversee entry to the profession and play a role in addressing professional conduct matters.
Recent cases have also highlighted the consequences that teacher registration decisions can have for educators and schools.
Government says registration safeguards will remain
The NT Government says the proposed consolidation would not change teacher registration requirements, renewal arrangements or child-safety checks. Curriculum functions and Year 12 certification arrangements would also continue under the new structure.
The government accepted all 16 recommendations from its review of the two existing boards. It said the changes were designed to streamline administration, improve accountability, and reduce regulatory duplication.
The review also recommended retaining teaching expertise in registration decisions. Staff with teaching expertise would continue participating in registration and renewal processes, according to the Department of Education and Training.
However, AEU NT president Brian Gray said the unions remained concerned about the independence of the proposed board.
“The only possible reason a government could have for doing this is to clear the way to lowering teacher standards and getting more underpaid, under-qualified people into NT classrooms—instead of offering salary increases that keep pace with the rest of the country to recruit and retain Australia’s best teachers for the NT,” Gray said.
At the centre of that concern is the shift away from the representational structure used for the past 20 years. The AEU argues that model has helped keep decisions on teacher registration at arm’s length from government.
Gray pointed to other states and territories, where teacher registration is overseen by independent boards or statutory authorities. He also warned that weakening those safeguards could eventually affect teacher standards and professional oversight in the Territory.
“This is a government take-over of what should be a professional body, run by teachers, funded by teachers’ registration fees, to regulate the teaching profession,” Gray said.
The comments come as the Territory continues to face teacher recruitment and workforce pressures, particularly in regional and remote communities.
Subject to the bill passing parliament, the new arrangements are scheduled to take effect on 1 February 2027. The existing boards would continue performing their statutory functions during the transition.