I have been a Celebrant for almost forty years. I have celebrated over 2,500 ceremonies
I entered Civil Celebrancy in 1993. Previously, I was with the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages.
At that time, Marriage Celebrants were selected by competitive assessments. No training was required. Rather, the applicant had to satisfy the Assessing Panel that they already possessed the necessary skills to perform the duties.
The Commonwealth Marriage Unit then was managed by a very competent Social Worker (of one) The legislative unit of the Attorney General's Department was separate and out of sight.
The Marriage Unit, based on marriages performed, determined the number of Celebrants needed by way of each Electorate. The local Federal Member was consulted (My Local Member actually interviewed me). Up until then, any adult citizen could lodge their name with the Marriage Unit. This balance allowed a Celebrant an economic share of the marriage performance market. It also allowed them to provide good service to their couples.
The Panel viewed the various applications and considered which applicant best suited the vacancy when it arose.
The whole scheme began to fail when the then Attorney General Phillip Ruddock (Raspberries), decided, unwisely, to merge the Marriage Celebrants Unit with the Legislative Unit of the Attorney General's Department. In came Certificate IV in Marriage Celebrancy, OPD, testing over and over again and a bureaucracy that we now have to pay for (that I don't mind but we need a say..Remember, "No Taxation without representation!".
The whispers of over governance by the Attorney General's Department are sounding louder. The appearance of "Lawyer- job creation and preservation" has emerged.
The competence of Lawyers to deal with the social challenges confronting Marriage Celebrants is most questionable. Their cop outs such, "Have you read the regulations?" stand out.
Frankly speaking Josh, the answer to the problems you raise here, is for Mr. Dreyfus to sack he Marriage Celebrants Unit and replace some of the Lawyers with Social Workers, and Diplomats.
Mr. Dreyfus put the human beings and the migrants with their political and cultural baggage back into our Marriage work load. Dump your legal liabilities.
Josh you are wise!
I have been a Celebrant for almost forty years. I have celebrated over 2,500 ceremonies
I entered Civil Celebrancy in 1993. Previously, I was with the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages.
At that time, Marriage Celebrants were selected by competitive assessments. No training was required. Rather, the applicant had to satisfy the Assessing Panel that they already possessed the necessary skills to perform the duties.
The Commonwealth Marriage Unit then was managed by a very competent Social Worker (of one) The legislative unit of the Attorney General's Department was separate and out of sight.
The Marriage Unit, based on marriages performed, determined the number of Celebrants needed by way of each Electorate. The local Federal Member was consulted (My Local Member actually interviewed me). Up until then, any adult citizen could lodge their name with the Marriage Unit. This balance allowed a Celebrant an economic share of the marriage performance market. It also allowed them to provide good service to their couples.
The Panel viewed the various applications and considered which applicant best suited the vacancy when it arose.
The whole scheme began to fail when the then Attorney General Phillip Ruddock (Raspberries), decided, unwisely, to merge the Marriage Celebrants Unit with the Legislative Unit of the Attorney General's Department. In came Certificate IV in Marriage Celebrancy, OPD, testing over and over again and a bureaucracy that we now have to pay for (that I don't mind but we need a say..Remember, "No Taxation without representation!".
The whispers of over governance by the Attorney General's Department are sounding louder. The appearance of "Lawyer- job creation and preservation" has emerged.
The competence of Lawyers to deal with the social challenges confronting Marriage Celebrants is most questionable. Their cop outs such, "Have you read the regulations?" stand out.
Frankly speaking Josh, the answer to the problems you raise here, is for Mr. Dreyfus to sack he Marriage Celebrants Unit and replace some of the Lawyers with Social Workers, and Diplomats.
Mr. Dreyfus put the human beings and the migrants with their political and cultural baggage back into our Marriage work load. Dump your legal liabilities.
James Hugh Donohoe