Dr LIM - 2005-03-23
At lunchtime today, almost 100 teachers gathered outside the convention centre to demonstrate to your government the dissatisfaction they have with the way you have dealt with the current EBA negotiations. I undertook to bring their message to you. I table the flier distributed by the AEU today, which says that the Territory government is not listening; that is why teachers have chosen industrial action.
The CLP has committed to giving Territory teachers salary increases of 15% over two years and support them with better conditions. Teachers across the Territory are angry at your inaction. Your own Education minister’s Nhulunbuy teachers have voted for a three-day strike. When will you respond and keep to your 2001 pre-election promise that you will make teachers in the Territory the best paid in the country?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Greatorex because I did not actually think he could ask questions. That is terrific!
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Well, we have had such silence from members of the opposition, as the Opposition Leader asked question after question, that it is good to see an opposition member actually ask a question. It is terrific. I am congratulating you.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Your answer, Chief Minister.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, cease! Do not speak to the member for Greatorex, speak my way.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we have a wonderful community here, and I cannot turn my back to them.
Madam SPEAKER: No, but you need not direct your remarks at members opposite. It is very provocative.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. The issue of the EBA for teachers is a serious one. This government values teachers and the work they do for our children right across the Territory – our wonderful Territory; not a mediocre one. We value the role they play in our community. I have seen, first-hand, as has everyone here, the work teachers do in our schools and community; their dedication and commitment.
The government and AEU are in disagreement over the EBA at the moment; there is no doubt about it. We support the right of teachers. It is disappointing that it affects schools so much, but we support the right of teachers to take industrial action. While we have disagreements over the issues, we are determined to resolve the issues as quickly as we can.
Since coming to office, we have been strongly supportive of teachers. We have employed 100 addition teachers in the Territory, above formula, and that has cost us part of that extra GST fund; that is, $8.14m each year. We are proud of that. As part of those extra 100 teachers, we now have 10 English as a Second Language teachers; five assistant principals for small, remote group schools; 28 additional teachers for students with special needs; 10 behaviour management teachers - something the AEU was very much pressing us to do; seven alternate provision teachers; five in a relief teacher pool; and five LATIS computer network capability staff.
Something else this government is enormously proud of is the $42m we announced a month ago for four years for secondary education. That is an additional $42m into secondary education. We are proud of what we are doing in secondary education. It starkly contrasts with the previous government, which had a policy of not providing secondary education to the bush. That is a disgrace and a shame. We are starting to see the results of that secondary education going to our bush communities. Two years ago, there were three students in Kalkarindji who achieved Year 12 in their community and, last year, there were four students in Maningrida. Those communities have celebrated ...
Mr Baldwin interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Daly, order! Order! Members of the opposition!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we are proud of what we have done in education. We will sit down with the education union and teachers, and we will sort out this issue of the EBA. However, the types of promises the teachers are being given by the opposition are disgraceful.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: They are disgraceful! They are un-costed and they are unfunded. What it will mean is that this opposition will simply have to cut teachers out of the system to afford those promises. We have costed those promises at somewhere between $60m and $90m. That is not supporting education and it is not supporting our teachers.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition members, I have allowed you a fair amount of leeway with interjections, but when interjections interrupt the flow of speech, I will not allow them. Members for Daly and Macdonnell, be aware.
The CLP has committed to giving Territory teachers salary increases of 15% over two years and support them with better conditions. Teachers across the Territory are angry at your inaction. Your own Education minister’s Nhulunbuy teachers have voted for a three-day strike. When will you respond and keep to your 2001 pre-election promise that you will make teachers in the Territory the best paid in the country?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Greatorex because I did not actually think he could ask questions. That is terrific!
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Well, we have had such silence from members of the opposition, as the Opposition Leader asked question after question, that it is good to see an opposition member actually ask a question. It is terrific. I am congratulating you.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Your answer, Chief Minister.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, cease! Do not speak to the member for Greatorex, speak my way.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we have a wonderful community here, and I cannot turn my back to them.
Madam SPEAKER: No, but you need not direct your remarks at members opposite. It is very provocative.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. The issue of the EBA for teachers is a serious one. This government values teachers and the work they do for our children right across the Territory – our wonderful Territory; not a mediocre one. We value the role they play in our community. I have seen, first-hand, as has everyone here, the work teachers do in our schools and community; their dedication and commitment.
The government and AEU are in disagreement over the EBA at the moment; there is no doubt about it. We support the right of teachers. It is disappointing that it affects schools so much, but we support the right of teachers to take industrial action. While we have disagreements over the issues, we are determined to resolve the issues as quickly as we can.
Since coming to office, we have been strongly supportive of teachers. We have employed 100 addition teachers in the Territory, above formula, and that has cost us part of that extra GST fund; that is, $8.14m each year. We are proud of that. As part of those extra 100 teachers, we now have 10 English as a Second Language teachers; five assistant principals for small, remote group schools; 28 additional teachers for students with special needs; 10 behaviour management teachers - something the AEU was very much pressing us to do; seven alternate provision teachers; five in a relief teacher pool; and five LATIS computer network capability staff.
Something else this government is enormously proud of is the $42m we announced a month ago for four years for secondary education. That is an additional $42m into secondary education. We are proud of what we are doing in secondary education. It starkly contrasts with the previous government, which had a policy of not providing secondary education to the bush. That is a disgrace and a shame. We are starting to see the results of that secondary education going to our bush communities. Two years ago, there were three students in Kalkarindji who achieved Year 12 in their community and, last year, there were four students in Maningrida. Those communities have celebrated ...
Mr Baldwin interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Daly, order! Order! Members of the opposition!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we are proud of what we have done in education. We will sit down with the education union and teachers, and we will sort out this issue of the EBA. However, the types of promises the teachers are being given by the opposition are disgraceful.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: They are disgraceful! They are un-costed and they are unfunded. What it will mean is that this opposition will simply have to cut teachers out of the system to afford those promises. We have costed those promises at somewhere between $60m and $90m. That is not supporting education and it is not supporting our teachers.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition members, I have allowed you a fair amount of leeway with interjections, but when interjections interrupt the flow of speech, I will not allow them. Members for Daly and Macdonnell, be aware.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016