(c) potential amendments to improve the effect of the bill and the likelihood of achieving the support of the Senate
Recommendation 4: CoCA recommends that Subdivision C Marriage Celebrants be separated into two separate subdivisions – Subdivision C, Commonwealth civil celebrants and Subdivision D, Commonwealth Religious celebrants to enable the initial training and professional development of the two groups to be addressed separately.
Rationale
- The Commonwealth is responsible for registration (based on designated training criteria) and professional development of the Subdivision C civil and religious celebrants. These requirements are stated in the Act and the Regulations.
- State and Territory Registrars of Births Deaths and Marriages register Subdivision A (Recognised Religions) and Subdivision B (State Officers). The Marriage Act has no specific requirements for training and professional development for these state and territory registered celebrants.
- As a result of changes made to the Marriage Celebrant program in 2003, the training and professional development needs of the Independent Religious Marriage Celebrants were not addressed separately from Independent Civil Marriage Celebrants.
- If these two groups of celebrants were separated under the Act, the distinction between the groups would be clearer to the public and the different needs of the two groups in terms of their initial training and continuing professional development could be addressed through appropriate consultation and changes to the Marriage Regulations.
3. Marriage Act 1961 Section 45
