New Phone Restrictions and Aboriginal Recognition for Victorian Education
Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
education system Indigenous affairs Indigenous education school phone use student data student devices teacher discipline teacher registration
Introduced by: The Hon Ben Carroll MP (ALP); The Hon Lizzie Blandthorn MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Brad Rowswell LIB
“I rise to address theEducation and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026. I will be frank, I was not expecting to be addressing this bill this week, but becauseofthecircumstancesthehousefindsitselfin,thisbillhasbeenbroughtforward,andIamnow in a position where it is being considered by the house and I amnow making a contribution on behalf of the opposition. This bill does a number of things.”
Evan Mulholland LIB
“I rise to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026. This is a substantial bill that makes amendments across Victoria’s education system.”
Nina Taylor ALP
“I am very pleased to speak on this bill, noting that the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026 will make improvements to our education system across the board. If you think more broadly, our state has led the way with treaty, and so it is consistent that we would make appropriate amendments particularly when it comes to Aboriginal recognition.”
Sonja Terpstra ALP
“It gives me pleasure to rise to make a contribution on this bill, the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026. I trust that most of my remarks will be actually relevant to the bill, unlike Mr Mulholland’s, which contained a lot of irrelevancies totheactualmatterbeforethischamber.”
Tim Read GRN
“I rise to speak in support of this bill, which reforms Victoria’s education system by embedding Aboriginal recognition and self-determination in the curriculum and mandating cultural training for educators.”
Melina Bath NAT
“I am pleased to rise to make a contribution on the Education and TrainingReformAmendmentBill 2026.As aformer teacher– andI havenowbeen in Parliament for 11-odd years – mobile phones were certainly on the rise when I was teaching.”
Michaela Settle ALP
“IamdelightedtorisetospeakontheEducationandTrainingReformAmendmentBill2026– such an important bill, I think. Certainly all of my colleagues in this place understand the absolute importance– morethan importance, the greatleveller – of education. Itis the waythat webring allof the community along with us.”
Rachel Payne LCV
“I rise to make a short contribution on the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026 on behalf of Legalise Cannabis Victoria. I would liketobeginbyacknowledgingthetraditionalownersof thelandsthroughoutVictoriaandpay my respect to their elders and the children and young people of past, current and future generations. Education in all forms is highly valued by First Nations people.”
Sheena Watt ALP
“I have taken the time this morning to really reflect upon the bill before us, and I have got to say I am really delighted to have the opportunity to make a contribution on this because, to my mind, this is a bill worthy of celebration and praise. I join with my fellow colleagues in speaking in strong support of the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill2026.”
John Lister ALP
“In the short time available before the break I want to speak about this bill and this amendment to the Education and Training and Reform Act 2006 in which we are strengthening Aboriginal recognition and self-determination in education; requiring that schools haveaprescribed minimumstandard for registration and apolicythatrestrictsstudentuseof personal electronicdevices,suchas mobilephones;improvin…”
“I am very, very pleased to speak today on the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026. It is no secret that I have a background in education, and it is one thatI amveryproud of.”
Paul Edbrooke ALP
“It is an absolute pleasure to be standing here tonight and speaking on the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026. We have heard from a couple of former educators. I am a former educator, and it was a time in my life that I feel very, very proud of, to be able to be in schools and – Thursday4 June2026 LegislativeAssembly 2203 John Lister interjected.”
David Limbrick Liber
“I am also pleased to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026. I will say from the outset that the Libertarian Partywillbeopposingthisbill.Therearetwomainareasofconcern,andIwilllayoutnowthereasons why we will be opposing it. The first one is around government-mandated policies on technology devices.”
Roma Britnell LIB
“I rise to speak on the Education and Training ReformAmendmentBill2026.”
Jacinta Ermacora ALP
“I am very pleased to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026. Because this bill includes elements consistent with the treatyandotherFirstNations elements,Iwould liketoacknowledgethetraditionalownersof theland that we arestanding on at this point in time and in this chamber. I amvery, very happy to supportthis bill.”
Dylan Wight ALP
“It gives me great pleasure to rise this evening and make a contribution in favour of the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026, an incredibly urgentbill, which is whyweareherethis evening, obviously, debatingit. AttheoutsetI would liketo touch broadly on education and schools and schooling in Victoria.”
Chris Couzens ALP
“I am very pleased to rise to contribute to the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026. I also want to outline the impact of the previous Liberal government, as the member for Tarneit did – the impact that that had on our schools in Geelong. Comingto governmentin2014 wefoundthoseschools in astateof absolutedisrepair.”
Wendy Lovell LIB
“I rise to join the debate on the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026. The Liberal Party will not be opposing this piece of legislation, but we will be moving amendments to improve the legislation. The government can have their views on things, but the opposition are also entitled to a view, except that is not the view of the left.”
Mathew Hilakari ALP
“I follow on from the member for Laverton, and I am verypleasedtodoso,becausesheexpressedsomeoftheviewsthatIhopetoexpressacrossthecourse of my contribution as well, which are just how much educators and education matter to Melbourne’s west. So many people in my community come to Point Cook, the electorate that I represent, for the great education delivered by great education leaders.”
Moira Deeming Famil
“I also rise to give my contribution on the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026, and I will not be supporting this bill. It is obviously logical that I would not support it, because I voted against the Voice, I voted against the treaty, and no matter what name you call this bill, it is the same kind of thing.”
“Can I acknowledge and thank those who have contributed to this debate. This, despite the contributions we have heard in the chamber today, is actually a very straightforward bill and seeks to amend the Education and Training ReformAct 2006 to make improvements to our education system.”
Lee Tarlamis ALP
“I move: Thattheconsideration of orders oftheday, governmentbusiness,2 to4, bepostponed until later this day. Motion agreed to. Tuesday28 July2026 LegislativeCouncil 2665 Bills Dangerous Goods Transport Bill2026”
“I rise to support the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026, a very important bill. It builds on the ongoing investments, reforms, policy measures and initiatives that we have been introducing continuously since 2014 to continue building the Education State here in Victoria.”
Anthony Carbines ALP
“I move: Thatdebatebeadjourned. Motion agreed to and debate adjourned. Ordered that debate be adjourned until later this day.”
Eden Foster ALP
“I am surprised that those opposite are not speaking on this motion, but it gives me an opportunity to speak straight after my good friend the member for Point Cook. This motion cuts to the absolute heart of the ideological divide in this state.”
Iwan Walters ALP
“I rise to speak in support of this motion in condemnation of the Leader of the Opposition, who has not stopped the former Shadow Treasurer’s reckless campaign for a mandatory five-day office return. I will just unwind a little bit and reflect upon where wehave arrived as asociety and an economy.”
Nathan Lambert ALP
“It is a pleasure to follow the fantastic member for Broadmeadows. I willperhaps begin as shedid, I thoughtappropriately, byrecognising thatwhilewe so stronglysupport work fromhome on our side of the chamber, we recognise first and foremost that many people of course cannot work from home.”
Josh Bull ALP
“I would love to hear the previous member go on and on, because as with the member beforehim, it was a very important contribution and a contribution that goes to, I think, an understanding of working people in this state and a contribution that looks at the changes to workplaces within Victoria, within the country and across the globe, and a recognition of the work- from-home policy and an underst…”
Pauline Richards ALP
“In the last few weeks I have brought a few schools into this beautiful workplace of ours; I want to acknowledge Cranbourne East Secondary College, Cranbourne Secondary College, Casey Grammar and Wilandra Rise. I take them up to the caucus room, our party room. It is a beautiful room, and it is a room where we talk a little bit about what it means to have discussions.”
Gary Maas ALP
“It is really terrific to get up here tonight to make a contribution tothis motion.Iwouldliketospeakto themotion becauseworkingfromhomehasreally transformed the way many of us work. Over the past few years flexible work arrangements have movedfrombeingthattemporarysolution thatwasthereamidstacrisis tobecomingapermanentand highly valued part of modern working life.”
Meng Heang Tak ALP
“I am delighted to join my colleagues on this side to speak on this motion on working from home. We on this side of the house condemn the Leader of the Opposition, firstly, for failing to stop the Shadow Treasurer’s reckless campaign for a mandatory return to five days in office.”
“It is with great pleasure, verve and vigour that I rise to support this motion before the house today. Working from home works, quite simply. For many peopleIthinktheresometimescanbesuchanimbalanceintheirworkandtheirhomelife,andIknow that there has often been for me.”
Paul Mercurio ALP
“I am very happy to stand and talk to this government motion on working fromhome: Thatthishousecondemns theoppositionleader for failingto: (a) stoptheShadowTreasurer’sreckless campaign for mandatoryfive-dayofficereturn; (b) condemn theShadowTreasurer for spreadingmisinformation on workingfrom home; and (c) commit toLabor’splanto legislate workingfromhome as a rightfor Victorians.”
Jordan Crugnale ALP
“I rise after the clock has struck midnight on this fine new day to speak on a matter that goes to the heart of modern working life in Victoria: how we support people to live, work and thrive in a way that reflects the realities of our time.”
Belinda Wilson ALP
“Where else would we rather be at 20 past midnighton this wonderful Friday morning than with – Brad Rowswell interjected. Belinda WILSON: I am simply asking everybody in the chamber where else they would like to be, member for Sandringham, and I know there is nowhere else you would like to be rather than in this chamber.”
Martha Haylett ALP
“I rise to speak on the motion that this house condemns the Leader of the Opposition for failing to stop the Shadow Attorney-General’s reckless campaign for a mandatory five-day office return, condemns the Shadow Attorney-General for spreading misinformation on workingfromhome and for failing to commit to Labor’s plan to legislate working fromhome as a right for all Victorians.”
Rachel Westaway LIB
“I rise to take note of the 2026–27 state budget and to speak on behalf of my community in Prahran. I would like to address what the member for Hastings MOTIONS Thursday4 June2026 LegislativeAssembly 2273 said:fromlittle things, big things grow. I would really like to see even some little things in the seat of Prahran in this budget.”
Natalie Hutchins ALP
“I rise to speak on the Victorian budget 2026–27. We all know on this side of the house that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Certainly this sideofthehouseiswillingtoaddressthereallyhardrealitiesofwhatfamiliesandpeopleandresidents and constituents are facing right now when it comes to the pressures of the cost of living.”
Chris Crewther LIB
“That was certainly exciting. This is an Allan Labor governmentthathasbrazenlyandflagrantlyneglectedVictoriaandtheMorningtonelectoratethrough their absolute financial mismanagement, lack of budget transparency and a disastrous budget earlier this year. Debtis now approaching$200 billion. Taxpayer-funded intereston this debtis alreadyover $1 million every single hour.”
Lauren Kathage ALP
“I amso proud to riseandspeakon the 2026–27 budget. When I think about this budget, I see it as a budget that shows that we are listening to the Victorian people and that their worries are our worries too, and so we have acted to provide support to them. There are three areas that I would like to focus on to start with.”
Katie Hall ALP
“What a delightful time of the day to be speaking about the budget. This was another fantastic year of delivery for my community in Melbourne’s inner west.”
John Mullahy ALP
“I move: Thatthedebate benowadjourned. Motion agreed to and debate adjourned. Ordered that debate be adjourned until later this day. Bills Electoral FurtherAmendment Bill2026 Council’s amendments The DEPUTY SPEAKER (04:29): The Speaker has received a message from the Legislative Council agreeing to the Electoral Further Amendment Bill 2026 with amendments.”
James Newbury LIB
“What we have seen is a government trying to rig the electoral system. That is what this government has done. Yes, they have made some amendments to their bill. Theyhave madesomeamendments, primarilyin a dealfor the crossbench votes, notsolely. They also made some amendments based on pressure from amendments that we moved to the bill.”
Jacinta Allan ALP
“I would like to thank members of this place and members of the Legislative Council – those who have supported this bill and who have been determinedtositthroughthenighttorestoreintegrityandtransparencytoVictoria’spoliticaldonation system.”
Matthew Guy LIB
“(1689) My adjournment matter tonight is for the Minister for Education, the Deputy Premier, and it concerns Templestowe College and their desire to build a multipurpose sporting and school communal facility on their premises. Templestowe College is a fantastic secondary school in my electorate. It obviously is located in the suburb of Lower Templestowe.”
Tim Bull NAT
“(1691) I am pleased to be on my feet at 5:30 am. My adjournment is to the Minister for Emergency Services, and the action that I seek is for the Lakes Entrance fire station to be fully funded. Recently there was a funding announcement made for CFA station builds, planning and land acquisition, and Lakes Entrance was among those included in that media release.”
David Hodgett LIB
“(1693) My adjournment is for the Minister for Roads and RoadSafetyregardingthelackofmaintenanceandvegetationmanagementoftheparceloflandatthe cornerofHullRoadandCardiganRoadinMooroolbark,whichhasbecomeasignificantlyovergrown.”
Martin Cameron NAT
“(1697) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Ministerfor theStateElectricityCommission, and theinformation Iseek is: whatis the government’s policyforensuringlocalcontractorsareaffordedtheopportunitytobidforworksonbigbatterybuilds in the Latrobe Valley? There are several big batteries in my electorate of Morwell, and we have a proud history of powering the state.”
Tim Richardson ALP
“When this bill was last up the hour was long. We were, I think, into the early hours of Friday morning, and I wanted to hold back my contribution because it is such an important bill.”