❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett about alleged instructions to schools not to replace education assistants on long service leave. Barnett denies knowledge, defends the overall increase in education assistant numbers, and accuses the opposition of laziness.
AnsweredQoN 184Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EDUCATION
ASSISTANTS — REPLACEMENT
184. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I refer to email instructions from the Department of
Education to all public schools instructing them not to replace education
assistants taking long service leave in 2014. Why is the government taking yet
more education assistants out of classrooms when they play such an important
role?
ASSISTANTS — REPLACEMENT
184. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I refer to email instructions from the Department of
Education to all public schools instructing them not to replace education
assistants taking long service leave in 2014. Why is the government taking yet
more education assistants out of classrooms when they play such an important
role?
AnswerView source ↗
Look, I am not aware of the exact
detail of what the member is referring to. With respect to education assistants
—
Mr M. McGowan :
There it is, from the department two weeks ago.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
have not seen that. I am not the education minister, am I? I am not the
director general either. If the Leader of the Opposition had really wanted me
to comment on that, he would have given me a copy before.
Mr M. McGowan : We
are doing the matter of public interest; surely you would get yourself across
it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If the opposition does not do its homework —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It does not do its homework. It is a lazy, lazy opposition.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Just lazy.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Pretend to laugh.
The number of education assistants has grown from 4 500 in 2004‑05,
to 7 500 in 2013. There were some changes in policy, and 350 education
assistant positions have disappeared. No permanent staff lost their jobs,
unless they chose to go. People on contract have not had them continued, and a
policy decision on anaphylaxis was taken—Western Australia had been the
only state in Australia that had education assistants working in that area—so
there has been a reduction. But can I say, because it has been misrepresented
by members opposite, that every single boy and girl in this state in a
government school who qualifies for an education assistant has one—every
single boy and girl—where their level of disability —
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No; the opposition does not like to hear the truth.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time. If you want to ask a
question, put your name down.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
As I said, for people on contracts where there was not the requirement for
them, those contracts were not renewed. As to anaphylaxis, there was a change
in policy and those education assistants were not required, and there are
better ways of assisting those children. But, again, every child who meets the
longstanding criteria, given their level of disability, would have an education
assistant. They all have them; there has been no change in that. No change at
all. That is why this is a lazy opposition; that is why it is a weak
opposition.
detail of what the member is referring to. With respect to education assistants
—
Mr M. McGowan :
There it is, from the department two weeks ago.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
have not seen that. I am not the education minister, am I? I am not the
director general either. If the Leader of the Opposition had really wanted me
to comment on that, he would have given me a copy before.
Mr M. McGowan : We
are doing the matter of public interest; surely you would get yourself across
it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If the opposition does not do its homework —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It does not do its homework. It is a lazy, lazy opposition.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Just lazy.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Pretend to laugh.
The number of education assistants has grown from 4 500 in 2004‑05,
to 7 500 in 2013. There were some changes in policy, and 350 education
assistant positions have disappeared. No permanent staff lost their jobs,
unless they chose to go. People on contract have not had them continued, and a
policy decision on anaphylaxis was taken—Western Australia had been the
only state in Australia that had education assistants working in that area—so
there has been a reduction. But can I say, because it has been misrepresented
by members opposite, that every single boy and girl in this state in a
government school who qualifies for an education assistant has one—every
single boy and girl—where their level of disability —
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No; the opposition does not like to hear the truth.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time. If you want to ask a
question, put your name down.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
As I said, for people on contracts where there was not the requirement for
them, those contracts were not renewed. As to anaphylaxis, there was a change
in policy and those education assistants were not required, and there are
better ways of assisting those children. But, again, every child who meets the
longstanding criteria, given their level of disability, would have an education
assistant. They all have them; there has been no change in that. No change at
all. That is why this is a lazy opposition; that is why it is a weak
opposition.
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