Page 2324 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 22 June 2011
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To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well.
Mr Barr, no doubt you do talk well, but it is about time you started listening. Minister, stop hiding behind the protection of your department. Stop blaming them for your poor judgement and even poorer ability to communicate.
What we have here, minister, is a case of administrative failure, and a ministerial solution that simply replicates and enhances the existing flaws. I urge you, Mr Barr, to listen to the teachers and let the teachers get on with teaching. I commend this motion to the Assembly and I urge all members to see this motion for what it is: a genuine attempt to get a sensible resolution to an absurd situation. I seek your support accordingly.
At 6 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (6.00): I think the only thing that Mr Doszpot and I will agree on is how absurd this discussion is.
The Education and Training Directorate introduced fortnightly absence records for teachers and school assistants in our public schools this year. As Mr Doszpot has indicated, the absence record was introduced following successive internal audits that revealed a significant discrepancy between leave taken and leave processed.
Clause 198 of the ACT Department of Education and Training teaching staff enterprise agreement 2009-11 states the following at part 198.1:
Teachers other than managers or equivalent are required to record daily attendance using the appropriate approved format and a hard copy retained for a period of two years.
And at part 198.2:
The teacher is responsible for ensuring their attendance record is accurate, and that all appropriate leave applications are submitted in accordance with clause 199.
The introduction of the absence record is consistent with clause 199.2 of the enterprise agreement, which states:
… all teachers are required to complete fortnightly attendance records for leave purposes.
These statements are in a binding industrial agreement and are unequivocal.
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