CLP Backs Striking Teachers

Tomorrow's teachers strike could have been avoided had the Labor Government adopted the sensible policy of making teachers in the Territory the best paid in Australia.

"A world-class education system is the key to prosperous future for the Territory and to achieve that goal we will require a high quality workforce,” says Terry Mills, Leader of the Opposition.

"The CLP would make Territory teachers the best paid in the country in an effort to improve the Territory's sub-standard education performance. In return we would demand Territory teachers undertake the highest standard of professional development.

"As the Territory doesn't train sufficient teachers to fulfil our classroom needs we need recruit heavily from interstate.

"The simple truth is to attract the best teachers to the Territory we will need to pay above the going rate for the rest of the country.

"An interstate teacher moving to Darwin will pay more for rent, petrol and groceries that any other capital city in the Australia.

"Teachers heading into regional and remote areas also face a very high cost of living.

"To counter the impact of the high cost of living we need higher wages.

"At present teachers in New South Wales top the pay scale in Australia with a possible salary of $75, 352.

"Had the Territory Government gone to the AEU and said NSW pay scales will be the starting point for the negotiations I'm convinced there would be no strike tomorrow.

"Further the Territory Government would have provided itself with the perfect recruitment tool – come to the Territory and be better paid than anywhere else.

"Instead the Labor Government decided to play hard ball, alienating the current workforce and threatening future recruitment.

"For too long education hasn't received the attention it deserves from Territory Governments and I include past CLP administrations in that statement.

"I'm committed to making the CLP the education party of the Territory. "

2008-03-30