Kerry Bartlett (Macquarie, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Is the minister aware that unions across the nation have been urging teachers to go on strike today? What is the government’s response and how will this strike impact on school students?

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Macquarie for his question and I note his deep concern and interest in this matter. I can confirm for the member for Macquarie that the ACTU did indeed hold a national strike today, and that included a number of school teachers. I am concerned that this will impact on students, who will suffer as a result of the fact that teachers skipped school to attend this strike.

Kelly Hoare (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Hoare interjecting

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would suggest to state government school teachers that, instead of striking—

Kelly Hoare (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Hoare interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Charlton is warned!

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

against the federal government’s Work Choices legislation, they call upon their employers—the state Labor governments—to improve their pay and their conditions.

The Howard government believe that better performing teachers should receive higher pay. We believe that rewards should be given to teachers who achieve measured improvements in student achievements. Currently, teachers are generally paid according to the number of years in the job, so it is in accordance with the years that they have been serving time as a teacher; it has nothing to do with student achievement.

Does this have consequences? Yes, it does. A principal in a primary school in the member for Jagajaga’s electorate, Bellfield primary, made radical improvements over a number of years to student achievements in literacy and numeracy. He did this by making teachers accountable for student outcomes. He was paid not one cent more than the timeservers, so the consequence is that he has moved out of the public education system. This is the consequence of state Labor governments failing to appropriately recognise the role that teachers play.

I would suggest that the state Labor governments link teacher pay to performance so that student outcomes are taken into account. This would mean better standards in all of our schools. The trouble is that state Labor governments are unable to reward high-performing teachers. They are unable to link pay to student achievement because they are captive to the teachers unions, who put their own interests above the welfare of their students.