09-05-2008: Greens MLC Sue Pennicuik moved amendments in state parliament today to try to strengthen privacy provisions in the Education & Training Reform Amendment Bill 2008.

“The bill introduced provisions to allow the development of policies, criteria and standards for early childhood development, which the Greens welcome”, Ms Pennicuik said.

However, it also provides for all students under the age of 25 to be provided with a unique Victorian student number and for the establishment of a central student register. The bill specifies certain uses and
authorised users of the number and there is no requirement for a student to disclose their student number to any person under the bill.

““While there are some safeguards in the bill, I wanted to also make it explicit that no person should be able to require a student to disclose the number, because as the new Act is implemented and all students are inevitably issued with cards, these will become quasi identity cards and that’s when they are open to misuse, especially when the majority of cardholders will be minors”, she said.

“Australians are generally wary of identity numbers and cards, and yet the government is introducing a compulsory unique identifying number for all Victorian students under 25 years”, she said. “It is regrettable that the government is rushing this legislation through without the full knowledge of parents and children in this state”.

Only the DLP supported the Greens amendments, although the Liberal/National coalition indicated that if there was evidence that student numbers were being misused, then it would look at remedies.

The stated aims of the student number are to provide data on all Victorian students for statistical and research purposes and to help track and follow up “at risk” students who may be disengaged from the education system. “I have strong doubts as to whether the stated aims, other than improving administrative functions are achievable”, said Ms Pennicuik.

“Of course, we should be doing all we can to assist and encourage students to stay in education to at least Year 12, but I believe this is best done at the local level with positive intervention and support programs. I am
sceptical about the use of number and a register in achieving this aim”, she said.

The state’s peak privacy group - Liberty Victoria has said that the VSN poses a real threat to student privacy and that current safeguards are inadequate.

For further information:  Sue Pennicuik  0407 000 270