Page 3821 - Week 13 - Thursday, 18 October 1990
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negotiations on increases in teachers' salaries. I personally believe it is appropriate for us to move to settle the question of teacher salary increases sooner rather than later. That is not to say that I believe they should occur with indecent haste or without regard to all the factors that governments ought responsibly to consider.
In particular, it is the intention of this Government to work within a framework of national negotiations for teachers' salaries, which framework has been urged upon us by the teacher unions themselves. The Australian Teachers Union, in particular, has taken a very strong campaign to education Ministers and employers around this country, urging those employers to provide a national benchmark for teachers' salaries. The ACT has, in fact, been an advocate and a supporter of that position for some time, although in recent weeks it appears that that particular position possibly has worked to the detriment of ACT teachers and as a result, perhaps not surprisingly, those teachers are no longer very keen on the concept of a national benchmark.
But, to answer your question shortly, morale is obviously a matter of concern. I would not wish to see morale go any lower than it is over the question of teachers' salaries at the moment. I hope that in the near future, that is, within the space of about a month, this Government will be able to conclude negotiations with the ACT Teachers Federation on the question of teacher salary increases within the framework of national negotiations on teachers' salaries, and under the auspices of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, which will see a substantial improvement in the morale of teachers in the ACT.
School Closures - Higgins Primary School
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I direct a question concerning school closures to Mr Humphries. How does the Government expect to save $9,000 a year at Higgins school on water and sewerage when Higgins Primary School has been charged only $3,314 per annum in each of the last three years?
MR HUMPHRIES: First of all, I have to say that I think it is again extremely unfortunate that the Opposition seeks to rake over issues which are properly, in a very loose sense, sub judice at the moment.
Members interjected.
MR HUMPHRIES: I am using the term figuratively. I know it is not before any court of law, but it certainly is before an arbitrator who I think - - -
Mr Wood: You use your figures very loosely too; that is the problem.
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