…. hits new levels for independent civil marriage celebrants !
Independent civil celebrants must now pay to be able to be sacked on grounds that do not apply to Recognised religious and registry office celebrants.
In 2003, the government introduced new measures to bring transparency to the appointment of independent marriage celebrants, increase professionalism and to regulate these celebrants once appointed.
- Compulsory annual education sessions were to improve professionalism, but not required of registry office nor recognised religious marriage celebrants.
- Later the Department required narrow interpretations of sections 45 and 46 of the Marriage Act, that had not been a cause for concern for 30 years, but only of civil celebrants!
- Now failure to pay a new Annual “professional celebrant” Fee will be another measure, the government can use de-register civil celebrants, but not registry office nor recognised religious marriage celebrants.
It is this removal of appointments, not increased professionalism, that independent celebrants see as extremely discriminatory.
And an unfair burden as independent civil celebrants must cover all their own set-up and running costs unlike registry celebrants who receive a government wage or Recognised religious celebrants who receive a stipend, accommodation and other support by their religious organisations.
The government acknowledges this fee will need to be passed onto 70% of the marrying public who choose a civil celebrant.
In total an extra $4.2 million to be raised each year from couples choosing civil marriages.
And it is NOT celebrants fault that the MLCS has antiquated administrative systems.
Better organisation of the whole system would reduce the amount of work to be done by the MLCS, and free up funds for computer and web systems upgrade. If appointment work is covered by application fees for new appointees, then the only fee required should be the cost for less than 1 hour of an administrative officer each 5 years to check a celebrant’s compliance. If not compliant, fines could apply to cover extra time.
That is the annual fee should be in the order of $10 pa.
I was appointed in 1996 and have conducted 1000+ weddings. However, at the end of 2012 I will take my experience and apply it to some other field of endeavour, rather than pay this outrageous fee to be allowed to conduct what is now a tiny fraction of my previous business. I didn’t expect any change in policy with the appointment of Nicola Roxon – it’s the overpaid staffers at MCS who will continue to call the shots. I’m totally fed up.
I became a marriage celebrant in 2009 and until now, I’ve performed just one wedding, so, no comment.