❓ Question regarding the potential sacking of teachers who haven't paid WACOT fees. The Minister avoids directly answering, instead providing historical context, defending the WACOT's purpose (child protection), and accusing the opposition of hypocrisy.
AnsweredQoN 576Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF TEACHING - TEACHER DEREGISTRATION
I refer to the letter sent to schools by Keith Newton, Acting Director General of Schools in the Department of Education and Training, threatening the mass sacking of teachers who fail to pay their Western Australian College of Teaching membership fee, and I ask - (1) As of today, how many teachers have still failed to pay their WACOT fees? (2) Will the minister still terminate the contracts of employment of unregistered teachers on 26 October, World Teachers Day, if they refuse to pay their fees? Mr M. McGOWAN
I refer to the letter sent to schools by Keith Newton, Acting Director General of Schools in the Department of Education and Training, threatening the mass sacking of teachers who fail to pay their Western Australian College of Teaching membership fee, and I ask - (1) As of today, how many teachers have still failed to pay their WACOT fees? (2) Will the minister still terminate the contracts of employment of unregistered teachers on 26 October, World Teachers Day, if they refuse to pay their fees? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Murdoch for his question. This morning, as a representative of the state government, I opened an important new facility at Rossmoyne Senior High School, a massive, beautiful, new science block, which will benefit the children in the member’s electorate. I turn now to the issue of WACOT. I want to provide members with a little history lesson about WACOT. The members opposite do not appear to know much about the history of this particular matter. I will quote from a document dated 16 November 2000 and titled “New register for State’s teachers” - TEACHERS would not be able to work in WA schools unless they were registered with an independent council of teaching, under a State Government proposal. Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia. Which, by the way, is what this government is doing. It continues - All teachers in public and private schools would pay a mandatory fee to register. Dr K.D. Hames : So how many did you sack? Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
(1) As of today, how many teachers have still failed to pay their WACOT fees? (2) Will the minister still terminate the contracts of employment of unregistered teachers on 26 October, World Teachers Day, if they refuse to pay their fees? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Murdoch for his question. This morning, as a representative of the state government, I opened an important new facility at Rossmoyne Senior High School, a massive, beautiful, new science block, which will benefit the children in the member’s electorate. I turn now to the issue of WACOT. I want to provide members with a little history lesson about WACOT. The members opposite do not appear to know much about the history of this particular matter. I will quote from a document dated 16 November 2000 and titled “New register for State’s teachers” - TEACHERS would not be able to work in WA schools unless they were registered with an independent council of teaching, under a State Government proposal. Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia. Which, by the way, is what this government is doing. It continues - All teachers in public and private schools would pay a mandatory fee to register. Dr K.D. Hames : So how many did you sack? Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
(2) Will the minister still terminate the contracts of employment of unregistered teachers on 26 October, World Teachers Day, if they refuse to pay their fees? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Murdoch for his question. This morning, as a representative of the state government, I opened an important new facility at Rossmoyne Senior High School, a massive, beautiful, new science block, which will benefit the children in the member’s electorate. I turn now to the issue of WACOT. I want to provide members with a little history lesson about WACOT. The members opposite do not appear to know much about the history of this particular matter. I will quote from a document dated 16 November 2000 and titled “New register for State’s teachers” - TEACHERS would not be able to work in WA schools unless they were registered with an independent council of teaching, under a State Government proposal. Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia. Which, by the way, is what this government is doing. It continues - All teachers in public and private schools would pay a mandatory fee to register. Dr K.D. Hames : So how many did you sack? Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Murdoch for his question. This morning, as a representative of the state government, I opened an important new facility at Rossmoyne Senior High School, a massive, beautiful, new science block, which will benefit the children in the member’s electorate. I turn now to the issue of WACOT. I want to provide members with a little history lesson about WACOT. The members opposite do not appear to know much about the history of this particular matter. I will quote from a document dated 16 November 2000 and titled “New register for State’s teachers” - TEACHERS would not be able to work in WA schools unless they were registered with an independent council of teaching, under a State Government proposal. Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia. Which, by the way, is what this government is doing. It continues - All teachers in public and private schools would pay a mandatory fee to register. Dr K.D. Hames : So how many did you sack? Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Murdoch for his question. This morning, as a representative of the state government, I opened an important new facility at Rossmoyne Senior High School, a massive, beautiful, new science block, which will benefit the children in the member’s electorate. I turn now to the issue of WACOT. I want to provide members with a little history lesson about WACOT. The members opposite do not appear to know much about the history of this particular matter. I will quote from a document dated 16 November 2000 and titled “New register for State’s teachers” - TEACHERS would not be able to work in WA schools unless they were registered with an independent council of teaching, under a State Government proposal. Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia. Which, by the way, is what this government is doing. It continues - All teachers in public and private schools would pay a mandatory fee to register. Dr K.D. Hames : So how many did you sack? Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia.
Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
(1) As of today, how many teachers have still failed to pay their WACOT fees? (2) Will the minister still terminate the contracts of employment of unregistered teachers on 26 October, World Teachers Day, if they refuse to pay their fees? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Murdoch for his question. This morning, as a representative of the state government, I opened an important new facility at Rossmoyne Senior High School, a massive, beautiful, new science block, which will benefit the children in the member’s electorate. I turn now to the issue of WACOT. I want to provide members with a little history lesson about WACOT. The members opposite do not appear to know much about the history of this particular matter. I will quote from a document dated 16 November 2000 and titled “New register for State’s teachers” - TEACHERS would not be able to work in WA schools unless they were registered with an independent council of teaching, under a State Government proposal. Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia. Which, by the way, is what this government is doing. It continues - All teachers in public and private schools would pay a mandatory fee to register. Dr K.D. Hames : So how many did you sack? Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
(2) Will the minister still terminate the contracts of employment of unregistered teachers on 26 October, World Teachers Day, if they refuse to pay their fees? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Murdoch for his question. This morning, as a representative of the state government, I opened an important new facility at Rossmoyne Senior High School, a massive, beautiful, new science block, which will benefit the children in the member’s electorate. I turn now to the issue of WACOT. I want to provide members with a little history lesson about WACOT. The members opposite do not appear to know much about the history of this particular matter. I will quote from a document dated 16 November 2000 and titled “New register for State’s teachers” - TEACHERS would not be able to work in WA schools unless they were registered with an independent council of teaching, under a State Government proposal. Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia. Which, by the way, is what this government is doing. It continues - All teachers in public and private schools would pay a mandatory fee to register. Dr K.D. Hames : So how many did you sack? Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Murdoch for his question. This morning, as a representative of the state government, I opened an important new facility at Rossmoyne Senior High School, a massive, beautiful, new science block, which will benefit the children in the member’s electorate. I turn now to the issue of WACOT. I want to provide members with a little history lesson about WACOT. The members opposite do not appear to know much about the history of this particular matter. I will quote from a document dated 16 November 2000 and titled “New register for State’s teachers” - TEACHERS would not be able to work in WA schools unless they were registered with an independent council of teaching, under a State Government proposal. Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia. Which, by the way, is what this government is doing. It continues - All teachers in public and private schools would pay a mandatory fee to register. Dr K.D. Hames : So how many did you sack? Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Murdoch for his question. This morning, as a representative of the state government, I opened an important new facility at Rossmoyne Senior High School, a massive, beautiful, new science block, which will benefit the children in the member’s electorate. I turn now to the issue of WACOT. I want to provide members with a little history lesson about WACOT. The members opposite do not appear to know much about the history of this particular matter. I will quote from a document dated 16 November 2000 and titled “New register for State’s teachers” - TEACHERS would not be able to work in WA schools unless they were registered with an independent council of teaching, under a State Government proposal. Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia. Which, by the way, is what this government is doing. It continues - All teachers in public and private schools would pay a mandatory fee to register. Dr K.D. Hames : So how many did you sack? Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Education Minister Colin Barnett said yesterday the council for teaching would set professional and ethical standards for entry to the profession and to continue working in schools. Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia.
Mr Barnett outlined a model for the council which would provide penalties for employing unregistered teachers and powers to deregister teachers for criminal behaviour such as paedophilia.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is the opposition’s policy! Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr C.J. Barnett : You established it; it is your law! Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We established a law which members opposite supported and in fact took as policy and said - Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr C.J. Barnett : I didn’t sack teachers; I appointed teachers. Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on! The member said “deregister those who were not registered”. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Does the member for Cottesloe have no memory? Is he devoid of any memory of what he actually proposed and supported when this bill came before the house? This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
This bill was brought forward to put in place three major things. The first was a professional body for teachers; the second was an assurance for parents that we would not have people working in our schools who might interfere with children - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Why don’t you answer the question? Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
Mr M. McGOWAN : This body is all about protecting children. What we see is the opposition moving away from that. I have with me a comment from the opposition spokesperson for education in which he complains about the working with children checks. Working with children checks are about ensuring that people who work with children are not paedophiles. On 8 February this year, he commented - You know, teachers have being disengaged from the decision making process over recent years, you know, you’ve had issues like the raising of the school leaving age, - He was complaining about the raising of the school leaving age - working with children legislation . . . We have the opposition attacking the body it supported, and now it is on the side of paedophiles in this issue. We have a view that this professional body is one whose time had come, and it was time to bring in some professional standards and a professional body for teachers. It was time to protect children and to give parents an assurance that people working in schools were appropriately qualified. That is what this body is about. I am sure that the issues that have been raised and are ongoing at the moment will resolve themselves with a degree of commonsense over coming weeks.
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