❓ Mr Rundle questions the Education Minister about the cost of a NZ consultant hired to advise on reducing teacher workloads, given existing consultation and reports. The Minister deflects, accusing Mr Rundle of hypocrisy regarding unions and highlighting the red tape review.
AnsweredQoN 756Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — CONSULTANTS
756. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the recent revelation
that the Department of Education has spent over $87 000 of taxpayer money to
engage a New Zealand–based consultant for advice on reducing teacher
workloads.
(1) Given that
the State School Teachers' Union of WA president, Mr Matt Jarman,
indicated that substantial consultation with teachers on this subject has
already occurred, can the minister justify this expenditure?
(2) What unique
value does this New Zealand–based consultant offer that our own
educators and the findings from the Productivity Commission report on teacher
workload reduction do not already provide; and will the minister make these
findings public?
756. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the recent revelation
that the Department of Education has spent over $87 000 of taxpayer money to
engage a New Zealand–based consultant for advice on reducing teacher
workloads.
(1) Given that
the State School Teachers' Union of WA president, Mr Matt Jarman,
indicated that substantial consultation with teachers on this subject has
already occurred, can the minister justify this expenditure?
(2) What unique
value does this New Zealand–based consultant offer that our own
educators and the findings from the Productivity Commission report on teacher
workload reduction do not already provide; and will the minister make these
findings public?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) It
is very interesting that the member for Roe should quote a union leader when he
is a union hater. He hates unions. He said in Parliament that he would not even
allow a former High Court judge who may have been a union delegate to head up
the royal commission into the casino because they had union affiliation, and
now he wants to quote from a union official. It is quite amazing.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Dr A.D. BUTI : He moved an
amendment to the protected entertainment precincts legislation to try to remove
the ability to have industrial freedom of association through the Northbridge
region.
I will get to the member's question. The member has
previously mentioned in here and outside this place that red tape has increased
the administrative burden on teachers and principals. I thought he was going to
come in here and congratulate me on instigating an inquiry to try to reduce red
tape. I thought that is what he would be doing. I also thought he would
congratulate me on that the department has gone to experts to try to ensure
that we come up with something that will be
significant and will allow teachers and principals to have their administrative
red tape burden reduced so that they can do what they have been asked to
do—that is, to be principals and to be teachers. I think the secretary
of the relevant union would also be happy that we have gone to experts to try
to ensure that what they come up with will be significant and will actually
help the members that he represents. I am proud that I instigated this red tape
review and I look forward to the results and to making significant change in
this area to reduce the administrative workload on our teachers and principals.
is very interesting that the member for Roe should quote a union leader when he
is a union hater. He hates unions. He said in Parliament that he would not even
allow a former High Court judge who may have been a union delegate to head up
the royal commission into the casino because they had union affiliation, and
now he wants to quote from a union official. It is quite amazing.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Dr A.D. BUTI : He moved an
amendment to the protected entertainment precincts legislation to try to remove
the ability to have industrial freedom of association through the Northbridge
region.
I will get to the member's question. The member has
previously mentioned in here and outside this place that red tape has increased
the administrative burden on teachers and principals. I thought he was going to
come in here and congratulate me on instigating an inquiry to try to reduce red
tape. I thought that is what he would be doing. I also thought he would
congratulate me on that the department has gone to experts to try to ensure
that we come up with something that will be
significant and will allow teachers and principals to have their administrative
red tape burden reduced so that they can do what they have been asked to
do—that is, to be principals and to be teachers. I think the secretary
of the relevant union would also be happy that we have gone to experts to try
to ensure that what they come up with will be significant and will actually
help the members that he represents. I am proud that I instigated this red tape
review and I look forward to the results and to making significant change in
this area to reduce the administrative workload on our teachers and principals.
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