❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier about modelling on the impact of the WA transition plan on teacher numbers and plans to address teacher shortages, particularly in regional areas. The Premier responds defensively, accusing the opposition of undermining the government's COVID-19 response and failing to support vaccination efforts.
AnsweredQoN 737Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — INTERSTATE BORDER RESTRICTIONS —
TRANSITION PLAN
737. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
safe transition plan for WA and predictions from the president of the
Principals' Federation of Western Australia, Bevan Ripp, who said on 18
October that Western Australian schools already had a problem with teacher
supply, which the move was likely to exacerbate.
(1) What modelling was done to
evaluate the likely effect of the plan on teacher numbers?
(2) What plan
does the Premier have to attract and retain teachers needed to fill the likely
gaps, noting this is a problem that is further exacerbated in regional and
remote Western Australia?
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call the
Premier, not the member for Wanneroo.
TRANSITION PLAN
737. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
safe transition plan for WA and predictions from the president of the
Principals' Federation of Western Australia, Bevan Ripp, who said on 18
October that Western Australian schools already had a problem with teacher
supply, which the move was likely to exacerbate.
(1) What modelling was done to
evaluate the likely effect of the plan on teacher numbers?
(2) What plan
does the Premier have to attract and retain teachers needed to fill the likely
gaps, noting this is a problem that is further exacerbated in regional and
remote Western Australia?
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call the
Premier, not the member for Wanneroo.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
government did something very tough but necessary. I know there are a lot of
critics and a lot of people undermining the government, but it is time for
political parties to show some responsibility. The Liberal Party and the Nationals WA should be responsible and support us
in what we are trying to do here . We are trying to get Western Australians
vaccinated so we can keep the community safe, so we can keep children safe at school and so we can keep staff
safe in schools. That is what we are trying to do. The reason the
education workforce is part of it is because schools are critical; they need to
continue to operate. That is why it is important. We want to make sure that
students are kept safe. All we have had over the last two years is the Liberals
and Nationals undermining us at every single opportunity. Here they are again:
support Clive Palmer, undermine everything we try to do. That is all they try
to do.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, you have not asked this question. Your interjections are repetitive. I ask
you to desist.
Mr M. McGOWAN : If we do
not do this and teachers get sick, what happens then? We will see teachers go
off f or weeks on end and children and parents will potentially get sick.
That is the alternative we face. There are no easy options here. We are doing
what is required to be done because tough times call for tough measures and
serious people to do them. That is what this government is doing.
Now, you continue to undermine; that is what you do. You
continue to ask questions that have the main aim of undermining what we are
trying to do. You support those who undermine all the time because you think
there are some political points in it for you. That is the only reason you do
it. This is the time, like the South Australian opposition is and has been
doing, to stand up and support the government when it is doing difficult
things.
Over
the next three months, we are going to persist. We are not going to give in to
the anti-vaxxers. We are not going to
give in to the people who threaten and intimidate—those people who do
outrageous things towards me, my family and my staff. We are not giving
in to that! All I would say to the Liberals and Nationals is: how about you
show a bit of responsibility and support us?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
government did something very tough but necessary. I know there are a lot of
critics and a lot of people undermining the government, but it is time for
political parties to show some responsibility. The Liberal Party and the Nationals WA should be responsible and support us
in what we are trying to do here . We are trying to get Western Australians
vaccinated so we can keep the community safe, so we can keep children safe at school and so we can keep staff
safe in schools. That is what we are trying to do. The reason the
education workforce is part of it is because schools are critical; they need to
continue to operate. That is why it is important. We want to make sure that
students are kept safe. All we have had over the last two years is the Liberals
and Nationals undermining us at every single opportunity. Here they are again:
support Clive Palmer, undermine everything we try to do. That is all they try
to do.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, you have not asked this question. Your interjections are repetitive. I ask
you to desist.
Mr M. McGOWAN : If we do
not do this and teachers get sick, what happens then? We will see teachers go
off f or weeks on end and children and parents will potentially get sick.
That is the alternative we face. There are no easy options here. We are doing
what is required to be done because tough times call for tough measures and
serious people to do them. That is what this government is doing.
Now, you continue to undermine; that is what you do. You
continue to ask questions that have the main aim of undermining what we are
trying to do. You support those who undermine all the time because you think
there are some political points in it for you. That is the only reason you do
it. This is the time, like the South Australian opposition is and has been
doing, to stand up and support the government when it is doing difficult
things.
Over
the next three months, we are going to persist. We are not going to give in to
the anti-vaxxers. We are not going to
give in to the people who threaten and intimidate—those people who do
outrageous things towards me, my family and my staff. We are not giving
in to that! All I would say to the Liberals and Nationals is: how about you
show a bit of responsibility and support us?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
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