❓ Opposition Leader questions Premier about conflicting information regarding teacher numbers at Churchlands Senior High School and the basis of an education dispute. Premier defends his statements, leading to heated exchanges and demands for retractions.
AnsweredQoN 521Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHURCHLANDS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — PREMIER'S
COMMENTS
521. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
In light of the Premier's earlier performance, I
remind him that he cannot turn off the cameras in this chamber. I refer to the
Premier's series of comments —
Mr T.R. Buswell :
When did you think that one up?
Mr M. McGOWAN : The
Premier is telling the ABC that it cannot have the cameras on.
The SPEAKER :
Right, Leader of the Opposition—just ask your question, please.
Mr M. McGOWAN :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I refer to the Premier's series of comments —
Mr
P.T. Miles : interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order now for the second time.
Can I hear this question in silence, please?
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I refer to the Premier's series of comments on the
education portfolio, including claims about the level of teaching staff at
Churchlands Senior High School and the education dispute being about pay rates.
(1) Last week
the Premier claimed that Churchlands Senior High School would be receiving an
extra four teachers. The acting principal has since corrected the Premier and
said that there will actually be four fewer. Who is correct—the Premier
or the school's acting principal?
(2) Is it the
case that the education issues have nothing to do with pay rates; and why is
the Premier suggesting that they do?
COMMENTS
521. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
In light of the Premier's earlier performance, I
remind him that he cannot turn off the cameras in this chamber. I refer to the
Premier's series of comments —
Mr T.R. Buswell :
When did you think that one up?
Mr M. McGOWAN : The
Premier is telling the ABC that it cannot have the cameras on.
The SPEAKER :
Right, Leader of the Opposition—just ask your question, please.
Mr M. McGOWAN :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I refer to the Premier's series of comments —
Mr
P.T. Miles : interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order now for the second time.
Can I hear this question in silence, please?
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I refer to the Premier's series of comments on the
education portfolio, including claims about the level of teaching staff at
Churchlands Senior High School and the education dispute being about pay rates.
(1) Last week
the Premier claimed that Churchlands Senior High School would be receiving an
extra four teachers. The acting principal has since corrected the Premier and
said that there will actually be four fewer. Who is correct—the Premier
or the school's acting principal?
(2) Is it the
case that the education issues have nothing to do with pay rates; and why is
the Premier suggesting that they do?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
Once again, the premise of the question from the Leader of the Opposition is
wrong. I have not said that the dispute is about pay rates. I have pointed out
that teachers in Western Australia are the highest paid in Australia. I have
also pointed out, and again point out, that when the Leader of the Opposition
was the Minister for Education and Training, Western Australian teachers had
the lowest pay rates of anyone in Australia.
Mr M. McGowan :
That is absolutely incorrect.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is absolutely factual.
Mr M. McGowan :
That's a direct lie.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition just accused me of telling a lie. I
ask that he withdraw.
The SPEAKER : I am
sorry—who said that?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It was the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mr
Speaker, I was referring to the Premier's claim.
The SPEAKER : Can
you withdraw those words, please?
Mr M. McGOWAN :
Yes, Mr Speaker. I was referring to the Premier's claim, which is
clearly incorrect, but I withdraw the imputation that it was a lie.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Ah, weak!
Questions
without Notice Resumed
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
have made the point a number of times that Western Australian teachers are well
paid; we have an expanding education system; there are very attractive
incentives for remote-area teaching; and those changes were again put in place
by a Liberal–National government and have stabilised teacher numbers.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There are something like 25 000 teachers in the system. The
number will be stable for the next 12 months, and thereafter there will be
continued growth. With respect to Churchlands high school, I simply relayed to
the house information I was provided on changes in teacher numbers. That was
the information —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I was given some examples of changes in several schools—Churchlands
was one of them. That was the information I provided, and in good faith I
provided it to the house. I do not know whether it has now proved to be correct
or incorrect, but it was simply information —
Ms
M.M. Quirk : How can we trust anything you say?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Because, unlike you, I am an honest person.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
The Premier has reflected on the honesty of the member for Girrawheen; and if
he is a man, he will withdraw that.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : I have finished my comments.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Is the Premier not going to withdraw? Mr Speaker, can I just
ask as a point of order whether or not you are requiring the Premier to
withdraw the comment that he made about the member for Girrawheen?
The SPEAKER : I
think he was responding to a barb that was thrown at him by a member.
Once again, the premise of the question from the Leader of the Opposition is
wrong. I have not said that the dispute is about pay rates. I have pointed out
that teachers in Western Australia are the highest paid in Australia. I have
also pointed out, and again point out, that when the Leader of the Opposition
was the Minister for Education and Training, Western Australian teachers had
the lowest pay rates of anyone in Australia.
Mr M. McGowan :
That is absolutely incorrect.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is absolutely factual.
Mr M. McGowan :
That's a direct lie.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition just accused me of telling a lie. I
ask that he withdraw.
The SPEAKER : I am
sorry—who said that?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It was the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mr
Speaker, I was referring to the Premier's claim.
The SPEAKER : Can
you withdraw those words, please?
Mr M. McGOWAN :
Yes, Mr Speaker. I was referring to the Premier's claim, which is
clearly incorrect, but I withdraw the imputation that it was a lie.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Ah, weak!
Questions
without Notice Resumed
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
have made the point a number of times that Western Australian teachers are well
paid; we have an expanding education system; there are very attractive
incentives for remote-area teaching; and those changes were again put in place
by a Liberal–National government and have stabilised teacher numbers.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There are something like 25 000 teachers in the system. The
number will be stable for the next 12 months, and thereafter there will be
continued growth. With respect to Churchlands high school, I simply relayed to
the house information I was provided on changes in teacher numbers. That was
the information —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I was given some examples of changes in several schools—Churchlands
was one of them. That was the information I provided, and in good faith I
provided it to the house. I do not know whether it has now proved to be correct
or incorrect, but it was simply information —
Ms
M.M. Quirk : How can we trust anything you say?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Because, unlike you, I am an honest person.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
The Premier has reflected on the honesty of the member for Girrawheen; and if
he is a man, he will withdraw that.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : I have finished my comments.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Is the Premier not going to withdraw? Mr Speaker, can I just
ask as a point of order whether or not you are requiring the Premier to
withdraw the comment that he made about the member for Girrawheen?
The SPEAKER : I
think he was responding to a barb that was thrown at him by a member.
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