❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding locality allowances for teachers in the Pilbara region, questioning if they adequately compensate for the cost of living and comparing them to allowances received by other government employees. The answer defends the current system, highlighting additional benefits teachers receive.
AnsweredQoN 7995Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the provision of locality allowances paid to teachers living in regional areas designed to compensate for, and off-set, the expenses associated with the higher cost of living in these areas?
(2) Is the remuneration package paid to teachers in the Country Teaching Program an incentive plan aimed at attracting and retaining teachers to work in difficult-to-staff schools and should not be confused with a remuneration provision to off-set the cost of living in regional areas?
(3) What provision is made for the payment to teachers of a locality allowance in each town and community across the Pilbara region?
(4) How does this locality allowance compare to the amount paid by the State Government by way of district allowance to most other government employees across the Pilbara?
(5) Does the Government acknowledge that there is a legitimate grievance amongst Pilbara teachers because of the smaller locality allowance that is paid to them in comparison to most of their fellow government employees across the region?
(2) Is the remuneration package paid to teachers in the Country Teaching Program an incentive plan aimed at attracting and retaining teachers to work in difficult-to-staff schools and should not be confused with a remuneration provision to off-set the cost of living in regional areas?
(3) What provision is made for the payment to teachers of a locality allowance in each town and community across the Pilbara region?
(4) How does this locality allowance compare to the amount paid by the State Government by way of district allowance to most other government employees across the Pilbara?
(5) Does the Government acknowledge that there is a legitimate grievance amongst Pilbara teachers because of the smaller locality allowance that is paid to them in comparison to most of their fellow government employees across the region?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 July 2012
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
47 days
(1)-(3) The allowances paid to teachers in the Pilbara include an allowance under the Country Teaching Program (CTP), a Locality Allowance and a Country Incentive Allowance. Not only do these allowances serve as incentives to attract and retain these teachers, they also take into consideration a range of factors such as distance from the coast, distance from major regional centres, whether the school is in a sought-after location, whether the school is difficult to staff, professional isolation, the cost of living in particular regional locations and the school's Socio Economic Index etc.
Attachment 1 details the allowances payable to teachers in schools in the Pilbara [see tabled paper no 4965].
(4)-(5) It is not appropriate to compare District Allowance to Locality Allowance, as the methodology and rationale behind the establishment of these allowances are different.
Moreover, it is too simplistic to compare District Allowance with Locality Allowance in isolation of the suite of other allowances and benefits enjoyed by teachers compared to other public sector employees in the Pilbara.
Teachers in the Pilbara receive a package of allowances including the Locality Allowance plus those paid under the CTP. Teachers in the Pilbara also receive a Country Incentive Allowance as provided for under the relevant Award. They also receive other benefits not awarded to other government employees including preference for Government Regional Officers' Housing and fast-tracked pathways to permanency under the CTP provisions. In addition, since 2008, teachers, under the Liberal-National government have enjoyed significantly higher salary increases compared to other public sector employees. As a result, Western Australian teachers continue to be the highest paid in Australia.
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Attachment 1 details the allowances payable to teachers in schools in the Pilbara [see tabled paper no 4965].
(4)-(5) It is not appropriate to compare District Allowance to Locality Allowance, as the methodology and rationale behind the establishment of these allowances are different.
Moreover, it is too simplistic to compare District Allowance with Locality Allowance in isolation of the suite of other allowances and benefits enjoyed by teachers compared to other public sector employees in the Pilbara.
Teachers in the Pilbara receive a package of allowances including the Locality Allowance plus those paid under the CTP. Teachers in the Pilbara also receive a Country Incentive Allowance as provided for under the relevant Award. They also receive other benefits not awarded to other government employees including preference for Government Regional Officers' Housing and fast-tracked pathways to permanency under the CTP provisions. In addition, since 2008, teachers, under the Liberal-National government have enjoyed significantly higher salary increases compared to other public sector employees. As a result, Western Australian teachers continue to be the highest paid in Australia.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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