David Norris (Independent)

I am in the unusual position where I am less satisfied after hearing the Minister's response. I will explain the reason. On the position of persons who have allowed their registrations to lapse, if this is a tactic to avoid being de-registered for reasons of bad behaviour, which is not likely, that would be a reason not to allow them to continue to teach. Where a registration has lapsed, the Minister has made a reasonable point on the need to upskill. However, I refer to someone who had taught successfully for a number of years but in respect of whom there had been a lapse of a year, during which time some minute question of upskilling might be raised. I note such a person would still have a competence and a qualification in that area. There can be no argument or the Minister has not advanced an argument that an unqualified person would be a better person to teach the children simply because a person's registration had been allowed to lapse. Senator Jim D'Arcy appears to disagree because an admonishing hand has been raised.