Page 1516 - Week 05 - Thursday, 7 May 2015
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MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, what will be the impact on the budget if back pay is not included as part of the new EBA?
MS BURCH: The offer of back pay is quite separate from our budget considerations. This is a genuine offer—
Opposition members interjecting—
Dr Bourke: Point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Point of order. Stop the clock, please.
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! I would like to hear the point of order.
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Smyth!
Dr Bourke: Madam Speaker, members of the opposition are persistently and wilfully refusing to stop interrupting speakers. I draw this to your attention as a point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: It has not escaped my attention, Dr Bourke; I can assure you of that. I have called Mr Hanson, Mr Coe and Mr Smyth to order uncounted times during question time. It is very hard to hear the answers, and if there is a point of order it is very hard for me to judge on it if I cannot hear what the person is saying. I would ask you, out of politeness to the chamber, to be a little more restrained in the amount of noise that you make.
MS BURCH: It is disappointing that there has been this confusion over back pay; it is very clear. For those opposite, let me just explain it one more time. Back pay was part of the first offer. That was rejected by the council at the AEU before it was taken out to its members. The last time I spoke with Mr Fowler, I alerted him to the fact that it was not in this offer and that he needed to approach the bargaining table or ask me to activate that being included in the offer on the table. He has not done that.
I am also on the public record as being supportive of the back pay offer. I value our teachers; I absolutely value our teachers. I know the work they do is extraordinary for families and individuals. They change lives. They give kids the opportunity to get on and be productive individuals.
Mr Coe: Madam Speaker, a point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe, on a point of order. Can you stop the clock.
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