Schools would have to give both sides on politics
Senator Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, has a private bill. It would tie federal school money to state laws. Those laws would ban teachers from pushing one side's views. Parents could go to court to make schools follow them.
Official name: Australian Education Legislation Amendment (Prohibiting the Indoctrination of Children) Bill 2020
- Teachers would be banned from pushing one side's views on students.
- Lessons would have to fairly show views that disagree on political, history and science issues.
- States would lose federal school money unless they passed laws to make this happen.
- The bill first came in 2020. It has died twice, but it is back on the Senate's list.
Who it affects
- Teachers and school staff: They could not push one side's views. They would have to show views that disagree on these issues.
- Parents and guardians: They could ask a court to make schools follow the rules. Schools would ask them for feedback.
- State and territory governments: They would need new laws to keep getting federal school money.
- The national body that writes what schools teach: It would have to make sure the national course plan gives fair views on all sides.
Parents cannot challenge classroom bias
Senator Pauline Hanson brought this bill to the Senate in February 2020. It is a private bill. That means one senator brought it, not the government.
Her notes on the bill explain its purpose. They say it gives parents a legal right to protect children from being brainwashed at school. She means teaching children to accept one set of beliefs without asking questions.
The notes say parents can already move their child to another school or teach them at home. They say parents cannot challenge what is taught. They give two examples of teaching she objects to. One is the idea that gender can change. The other is global warming caused by people.
Curriculum body changes
A national body writes the course plan for Australian schools. Its full name is the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. It also runs national tests and reports on schools.
The bill would make this body ensure lessons fairly show views that disagree on political, history and science issues. The national course plan would have to be built this way. The body would also have to give teachers help and guides for fair teaching.
Strings on school funding
The federal government gives the states and territories money for schools under the Australian Education Act 2013. The bill would add a new condition to that money.
A state would only get the money if it has laws that do four things. First, staff must be banned from pushing one side's views or activities on students. That applies in class and when running the school.
Second, staff must fairly show views that disagree on political, history and science issues when they come up. Third, parents or guardians must be able to ask a court to make schools follow these rules. Fourth, schools must ask parents how well staff are giving fair views, and use that feedback.
The rules would also cover private schools that teach students from a distance.
Say a Year 10 science class studies climate change. Under state laws made to meet this bill, the teacher would need to show views that disagree on it. A parent who felt that did not happen could ask a court for an order.
The bill says it does not apply where it would break the freedom to talk about politics. The High Court, Australia's top court, has found this freedom in the Constitution, Australia's top law.
Rights and cost
Senator Hanson says the bill raises no human rights problems. Her notes do not give a cost.
Waiting in the Senate
The bill was brought into the Senate on 10 February 2020. It was debated on 31 August 2020. It died when Parliament ended in July 2022, because it had not been voted on.
It was put back on the Senate's list in August 2022. It was debated again on 23 November 2022. It died a second time on 21 July 2025. It was put back again on 23 July 2025.
It is still before the Senate. To become law it would need to pass the Senate and then the House of Representatives. Then the Governor-General would sign it. The Governor-General is the King's representative in Australia. It would start the day after that.
Its journey through Parliament
| 10 Feb 2020 | Senate: Introduced and read a first time |
| 10 Feb 2020 | Senate: Second reading moved |
| 31 Aug 2020 | Senate: Second reading debate |
| 25 Jul 2022 | Senate: Lapsed at end of Parliament |
| 03 Aug 2022 | Senate: Restored to Notice Paper |
| 23 Nov 2022 | Senate: Second reading moved |
| 23 Nov 2022 | Senate: Second reading debate |
| 21 Jul 2025 | Senate: Lapsed at end of Parliament |
| 23 Jul 2025 | Senate: Restored to Notice Paper |