Let Marriage Celebrants do their job and amend the Public Health Order to remove contact collection responsibilities
Petitioner:
Mrs Lillian Lyon
| Member:
Speakman, Mark
| No. of Signatories:
150
| Date closed:
21/10/2021
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
According to Public Health (COVID-19 Safety) Order 2021, the responsible person for a significant event if held in an outdoor public place is "the person organising the event or conducting the service" - (the authorised marriage celebrant conducting the ceremony).
We request the Legislative Assembly to remove “or conducting the service" which has major implications for the role of Marriage Celebrant, on the following grounds.
a) Celebrants are not educated or trained to manage hostilities from attendees that refuse to comply with requirements.
b) Many celebrants are of an older age group and struggle with basic technology. These celebrants are ill-equipped to manage the responsibility.
c) The celebrant is booked for a limited period of time for each event and is already required to perform important duties, both legally required paperwork and management of ceremony participants and marrying couple. The collection of contact data would prevent them from fulfilling these duties.
d) In public areas without obvious boundaries ; ie parks and beach reserves, it will not be possible for celebrants to remain aware of guest numbers, especially if ceremonies have already commenced.
e) A celebrant plays a pivotal role at a wedding, but they are not the owner of the event. Their services are engaged by the marrying couple.
f) Celebrant responsibilities are clearly outlined in the Attorney General’s Code Of Practice For Marriage Celebrants. The vast majority of celebrants go beyond these requirements, already. Service standards will fall.
