❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett about a proposed long service leave levy on schools and its potential impact on programs. Barnett defends the government's record on education funding and teacher salaries, criticising a planned teacher strike.
AnsweredQoN 498Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOL STAFF — LONG SERVICE LEAVE LEVY
498. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's plan to impose a long service
leave levy of $600 per teacher and $400 per other education worker on all
public schools.
(1) Can the
Premier tell the house what programs or subjects will be cut by schools to pay
for this additional impost on our schools?
(2) Is this not
just a result of the government's failure to manage the long service
leave liability centrally?
498. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's plan to impose a long service
leave levy of $600 per teacher and $400 per other education worker on all
public schools.
(1) Can the
Premier tell the house what programs or subjects will be cut by schools to pay
for this additional impost on our schools?
(2) Is this not
just a result of the government's failure to manage the long service
leave liability centrally?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
repeat: this financial year, this state government has increased funding for
education by $300 million or seven per cent—a huge increase.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Armadale!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Since this government has been in power, we have increased
education funding by 55 per cent. I again state that teachers in Western
Australia are the highest paid in Australia, with probably the best working
conditions. When the Labor Party was in power, Western Australian teachers were
the lowest paid.
Mr
M. McGowan : That is absolutely wrong.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Yes, they were. I wonder if the public appreciates how well
teachers are paid as a result of the Liberal–National government. A
graduate teacher starts on $63 000, a teacher who has been in the system for
perhaps five years would get $82 000, and a senior teacher who has been in the
system for about eight to 10 years would get $95 000.
Ms
M.M. Quirk : Answer the question.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member can answer questions the way she likes and I will
answer the way I like.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Armadale, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : A principal in one of 800 schools will get somewhere between
$101 000 and $150 000. Plus teachers in our system, the best paid in Australia,
get 12 weeks' annual leave and working hours that give them great
flexibility and family life. It is an attractive package.
Ms
M.M. Quirk : You're attacking the man.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Attacking the man? I am talking about teachers.
For over 18 months the Labor Party
and the Leader of the Opposition could not settle a wage dispute.
Mr
M. McGowan : Again, wrong.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is a matter of fact. We settled it within about two weeks
of being in government. Teachers got a six per cent increase. This Thursday the
teachers are going to strike. This is a strike for the sake of a strike. What
are they striking over? They are the best paid teachers in Australia and they
are going to have a strike for the sake of a strike.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the second time. I
suggest that you put your name down and ask a question.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Teachers' salaries —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Teachers' salaries are paid for by the state
government through the Department of Education. It is important that school
principals manage the long service leave of their teachers. It cannot be
allowed to accrue continually. It is all taxpayers' money; it does not
matter which pot it comes out of. School principals have a responsibility to
manage long service leave appropriately. If a school is losing two teachers,
the State School Teachers' Union is going around saying it is losing
$200 000. It is not; it is losing two teachers because they are going to a
school where there is a shortage of teachers. That is not taking money off the
schools.
Mr R.H. Cook :
Which ones?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Any school; it is a hypothetical. Two teachers equals $200 000.
I appeal to teachers and education
assistants to not go on strike. If they go on strike on Thursday, that will
cause massive disruption to hundreds and thousands of parents. It will cause
distress to parents, and it is absolutely unnecessary. I can understand why so
many parents will be very angry if the teachers go on strike on Thursday. Their
lives will be disrupted. Many of them will not turn up to work because they
need to look after their children, pay babysitters, make other arrangements or
be fearful for the care of their children. That is a reality. This is totally
unjustified. Our teachers are the best paid in Australia and they have the best
working conditions and our schools receive the best funding in the state's
history. The strike is not justified. The Leader of the Opposition just jumps
on the bandwagon, and why would he not? Two weeks ago we had an ALP teachers'
union strike, two days before the federal election. The teachers are trying to
make something of it. They do not have a case for a strike.
repeat: this financial year, this state government has increased funding for
education by $300 million or seven per cent—a huge increase.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Armadale!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Since this government has been in power, we have increased
education funding by 55 per cent. I again state that teachers in Western
Australia are the highest paid in Australia, with probably the best working
conditions. When the Labor Party was in power, Western Australian teachers were
the lowest paid.
Mr
M. McGowan : That is absolutely wrong.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Yes, they were. I wonder if the public appreciates how well
teachers are paid as a result of the Liberal–National government. A
graduate teacher starts on $63 000, a teacher who has been in the system for
perhaps five years would get $82 000, and a senior teacher who has been in the
system for about eight to 10 years would get $95 000.
Ms
M.M. Quirk : Answer the question.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member can answer questions the way she likes and I will
answer the way I like.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Armadale, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : A principal in one of 800 schools will get somewhere between
$101 000 and $150 000. Plus teachers in our system, the best paid in Australia,
get 12 weeks' annual leave and working hours that give them great
flexibility and family life. It is an attractive package.
Ms
M.M. Quirk : You're attacking the man.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Attacking the man? I am talking about teachers.
For over 18 months the Labor Party
and the Leader of the Opposition could not settle a wage dispute.
Mr
M. McGowan : Again, wrong.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is a matter of fact. We settled it within about two weeks
of being in government. Teachers got a six per cent increase. This Thursday the
teachers are going to strike. This is a strike for the sake of a strike. What
are they striking over? They are the best paid teachers in Australia and they
are going to have a strike for the sake of a strike.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the second time. I
suggest that you put your name down and ask a question.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Teachers' salaries —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Teachers' salaries are paid for by the state
government through the Department of Education. It is important that school
principals manage the long service leave of their teachers. It cannot be
allowed to accrue continually. It is all taxpayers' money; it does not
matter which pot it comes out of. School principals have a responsibility to
manage long service leave appropriately. If a school is losing two teachers,
the State School Teachers' Union is going around saying it is losing
$200 000. It is not; it is losing two teachers because they are going to a
school where there is a shortage of teachers. That is not taking money off the
schools.
Mr R.H. Cook :
Which ones?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Any school; it is a hypothetical. Two teachers equals $200 000.
I appeal to teachers and education
assistants to not go on strike. If they go on strike on Thursday, that will
cause massive disruption to hundreds and thousands of parents. It will cause
distress to parents, and it is absolutely unnecessary. I can understand why so
many parents will be very angry if the teachers go on strike on Thursday. Their
lives will be disrupted. Many of them will not turn up to work because they
need to look after their children, pay babysitters, make other arrangements or
be fearful for the care of their children. That is a reality. This is totally
unjustified. Our teachers are the best paid in Australia and they have the best
working conditions and our schools receive the best funding in the state's
history. The strike is not justified. The Leader of the Opposition just jumps
on the bandwagon, and why would he not? Two weeks ago we had an ALP teachers'
union strike, two days before the federal election. The teachers are trying to
make something of it. They do not have a case for a strike.
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