Page 3552 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
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who do not pay or cannot afford to pay, I suggest that you address that question to the Attorney-General.
Teachers
MRS NOLAN: Mr Speaker, my question is addressed to Mr Humphries in his capacity as Minister for Education. Is it true that salary increases for teachers would lead to fewer teachers being employed in the ACT?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I thank Mrs Nolan for this question. The Government, as members I am sure are well aware, is continuing negotiations at both the national and local level about teachers' salaries. Indeed, last Friday in Melbourne I attended a meeting on that subject with other Ministers for education. The ACT Teachers Federation and my ministry are discussing possible structural changes to the teaching profession and associated salary structure. Members will certainly be aware that under national wage principles issues of that kind are very much to the forefront of negotiated wage increases.
The Federation has lodged notification of a dispute in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and the parties will make an appearance before the Commission on the 27th of this month.
The ministry will follow the normal industrial process to settle the dispute as directed by the Commission. If the negotiations result in salary increases, naturally the ministry will need to examine the impact of the costs on the education budget. Ideally, the structural efficiencies gained will contribute to meeting any increased costs. However, if the costs are high the ministry will need to review its staffing policies. It is intended that structural efficiency improvements and productivity improvements will benefit ACT public schooling.
Weetangera Primary School
MS FOLLETT: My question is also addressed to Mr Humphries as Minister for Education. Mr Humphries, was there ever a review of the decision to close Weetangera Primary School? If so, what was the nature of that review and what advice did you subsequently give the school?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, there was never any undertaking on the part of the Government to conduct a review of the Weetangera Primary School decision.
Mr Moore: That is not their understanding.
MR HUMPHRIES: Well, if they have a different understanding it is a maliciously founded misunderstanding because I met
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