Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 13 March 2012:

(1) What feedback has the department received in relation to the proposal to impose a $600 annual fee upon marriage celebrants.

(2) Are submissions made in response to the department's discussion paper available on its website.

(3) How will the proposed fee benefit marriage celebrants.

(4) Given that marriage celebrants already bear substantial costs, such as buying marriage certificates and registers, paying for mandatory ongoing professional development, along with all the other standard and significant costs of being in business, how can the department justify imposing yet another cost without measurable value to the celebrant.

(5) Will the imposition of a fee seriously damage the relationship between celebrants and the department.

(6) Has the department considered a more scalable solution, such as a per-wedding fee.

(7) How does the department intend to reduce the number of celebrants.

(8) Is the department hoping that the introduction of a fee will result in attrition of celebrant numbers.

(9) How does the department intend to improve its service to celebrants, including frequent communications and the provision of an extended hours (including weekends) help desk for celebrants.

(10) Has the department investigated improving the current processes for lodging the Notice of Intended Marriage.

(11) Has the department considered a moratorium on new marriage celebrant appointments, especially considering the current high number of celebrants.

(12) What disclosure is given to prospective or new celebrants on the state of the market.

(13) Why does the Government not provide budget funding for the regulation of the celebrant program, or pass on responsibility to the state registries of births, deaths and marriages.

(14) How many civil weddings have been held each year since 2002.

(15) How many celebrants have never performed a wedding.

(16) What is the average cost of ongoing professional development for celebrants.

(17) Who reviews the standard, of ongoing professional development training for celebrants, including the content and the training providers.