Risks for public education and teachers

General Secretary JOHN IRVING and President MAREE O'HALLORAN summarise the risks inherent in the election of a state Liberal/National government.

Although both major parties have promised significant improvements in public education, only the Liberal/National Coalition is threatening to fund these by cutting 20,000 public sector jobs and placing your rights at work in jeopardy. With only about 9,000 NSW public servants appearing to fit Mr Debnam's definition of "bureaucrat", the Federation remains unconvinced that Mr Debnam's proposed cuts to the public service will not impact dramatically on "frontline" public servants, including school teachers. Even if the Liberal/National Coalition could achieve the cutbacks without impacting on schools, significant doubt exists as to the projected savings of $4.5 billion needed to fund the Coalition's education and other promises. (See Sydney Morning Herald, February 27, "Debnam's figures don't add up".)

The fear remains that an incoming Coalition government would abandon many of its election promises, including those made to teachers.

On industrial relations, Mr Debnam has promised to hand most of the State's industrial relations powers to the Howard Government and he won't give an undertaking to preserve the State Industrial Relations Commission. In the light of this, it is difficult to have confidence in his statements that state public servants will not end up under the federal legislation.

The risks for public education and teachers inherent in the election of a state Liberal/National government are too great. The Federation believes teachers cannot afford to vote for the Coalition.

Party policies evaluated

Tebbutt and Hazzard in their own words

Coalition dangerous for your rights at work

Don't forget the independents

Federation win for beginning teachers

Statewide staffing system at risk

Superannuation and your vote

Will your vote elect a candidate you do not support?

For further information

March 2007 contents