Ms Deirdre O'Connor:

The first issue relates to potential conflict between the principal and the board. The difference when a board makes a decision on enrolment is that all of the stakeholders make the primary decision. However, there are situations where principals and boards are not in agreement. This is one measure that does need to start off at that point.

We have had some consideration of section 29. Through the regulatory impact assessment, one of the things that was highlighted by the Department was cost. It would be very unfortunate if all of the points that were made here, by all of the parties, were overridden by a potential cost of litigation against the Department regarding section 29 appeals. That matter needs to be addressed.