Page 1516 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 2 May 1990
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proponent of many things in education. He, along with Alan Jones, the media commentator, is indicating the need to increase teachers' salaries.
A matter that I want to concentrate on today is the support for teachers and their quality of teaching by the Schools Council, which is the body established by the Federal Minister for Education to give him advice on matters affecting schools. That Schools Council is very aware of the need to increase the quality of teaching. I am conscious that I am talking about quality of teaching, a component of which inevitably is going to be teachers' salaries. The Schools Council said recently:
Arising from its considerations of the issues of teacher quality in other developed countries the Schools Council believes it is essential that all governments in Australia recognise that in any strengthening of Australia's schools the quality, morale and status of the teaching services will be a key, if not the most important, element.
The Council therefore recommends that the Commonwealth Government accords the highest priority in its policies and actions to this area.
Arising from this report the Commonwealth Minister is consulting with State Ministers and, in our case, with Mr Humphries, on what might be done in this area. It is necessary for the broader community to understand this problem. I think that those who are interested in education know of the debate in this area but I am not sure that the broader community understands it.
As a result of these moves there are now proposals in industrial tribunals relating to teachers' claims for increased salaries. Now, those claims are understandably being taken through by the teachers' professional bodies. There have been negotiations - I do not know the detail of them - between this Government and the Teachers Federation in the Territory. Part of this proposal is to convince the Government and members on that side of the house that this is a most important issue. It is one that we cannot neglect. I spoke to Mr Humphries before this debate began and I am sure that he understands this need and that he, with this Government, will be supporting the claims of teachers. I believe Mr Humphries is meeting Mr Dawkins tomorrow in company with other Ministers. I am not sure what the issues to be debated are, but I would urge him to recognise the need to increase the salaries paid to teachers as part of the process of raising the quality of teachers.
Let us remember the end result of all this. In the end it is not teachers we are talking about; in the end we are talking about children in schools. Beyond that again we are talking about the future of this nation, because our children and the quality of the education they receive will determine how this country will operate in future years.
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