Garrett must condemn NSW strike action

The Gillard Government’s silence has been deafening about the New South Wales teacher’s strike despite it being over a policy position the Labor Party supposedly supports, said Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education today.

“This silence calls into question whether Schools Minister Peter Garrett and the Prime Minister are truly committed to school autonomy or merely paying it lip-service,” Mr Pyne said.

“The Teacher’s Federation of New South Wales should be condemned for opposing school autonomy which has the power to transform schools, empower communities and improve student outcomes,” he said.

“Autonomy is about giving schools the power to respond to the needs of their school community, respond to the needs of students and bypass the bureaucracy and red tape over decision making.

“It also should give schools the power to require under-performing teachers to improve or move on.

“The latest 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows an increasing shift of student numbers from government schools to non-government schools since 2006.

“If the New South Wales Teacher’s Federation are wondering why it is that parents are willing to pay non-government school fees when their children could receive a free education then they should be looking closely at the advantages the non-government sector has derived from autonomy and independence.

“I call on Peter Garrett to denounce the actions of the New South Wales Teacher’s Federation, clearly state the Gillard Government’s ongoing commitment to school autonomy and support for the work of the O’Farrell Government,” Mr Pyne said.

June 26, 2012