Page 847 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 6 April 2022
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
If only they were. That is something we have been calling for. That is something we want to see. That is something that the union wants to see. The amendment continues:
(d) report regularly and in a timely manner to unions on staff absences, including split, collapsed and cancelled classes, in a way that minimises additional reporting workload for schools …
Yes, let us do that. The amendment then states:
(e) continue to work with unions to ensure the safety of public school workplaces and to reduce workload for teachers and school staff.
Yes, I support all of that. I propose an amendment to that. This is one of those amendments that seeks to replace all words after “That this Assembly notes that”, so it is a complete rewrite of my motion. In the interests of getting a result, I propose to amend the amendment to add the four things that I am calling for, so that we can hopefully get an agreement here that takes us to a place which we can all agree on.
All that I have asked for is to “stop the funding cuts to ACT schools”. The ROGS report statistic, in black and white, of 3.3 per cent over the decade is irrefutable. If the minister thinks that somehow there were not any cuts—I do not know how that is so, but if she thinks that is the case—that should not bother her; if she does not think she is making cuts, it will not bother her, anyway.
The next part of my amendment is to “determine and publish the exact number of teachers needed in the ACT.” That is reasonable, isn’t it? How many teachers do we need? Is that not a fair question to ask? Is that not a reasonable question to ask?
The next part is to “deliver the 400 new teachers promised”. Deliver your election promise. Again, I am asking the Labor Party to deliver on their election promise. I think that is a reasonable thing to ask, wouldn’t you say, Mr Assistant Speaker? I am asking them to deliver on a promise.
The last part is to “accelerate the infrastructure program”. They have put extra money in the budget. We welcome that, for infrastructure. Accelerate it; let us get on with it. Let us do it. There are schools out there crying for more infrastructure to be built. Let us get that program up and running. Let us get it delivered. Does anyone disagree?
I think we could have an outcome here. If you accept the amendment that I will move shortly, we will have a situation where we get what we want, the minister will get what she wants from the motion and, more importantly, despite the argy-bargy in this place, hopefully, it will mean that teachers on the ground, and, importantly, the kids that they teach, will get what they need and deserve.
In line with that, I move the following amendment to Ms Berry’s proposed amendment:
Add:
“(f) stop the funding cuts to ACT public schools;
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video