ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry has been censured in the Legislative Assembly amid a teachers’ strike that has closed schools across the territory today.
Ms Berry was censured this morning in a joint motion brought by the Canberra Liberals and the ACT Greens, who took aim at her handling of the education and housing portfolios.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) is locked in an ongoing dispute with the government over a new enterprise agreement, with concerns about staffing and workloads.
The industrial action follows a two-hour work stoppage last month, the first such strike action by ACT public school teachers in more than 15 years.
Today, Ms Berry defended her record and said she had called for recent reviews into the housing and education portfolios.
She also said she was taking a more active role in negotiations with the union, adding she knew teachers were frustrated.
Teachers went on strike in the ACT for a whole day after a two-hour work stoppage in May. (ABC News: Adam Shirley)
‘A sustained record of failure’
The joint censure was sparked by concerns over a “sustained record of failure in the vital education and housing portfolios”, the two parties said.
“For years, teachers, learning support assistants, principals, parents and students have warned that ACT public schools were under increasing pressure,”
a joint statement said.
“Minister Berry repeatedly insisted the system was performing strongly. The independent ACT Public School System Resourcing Review then exposed the deep and systemic failures across the education system.”
The statement said the review had shown schools in the ACT were affected by a range of issues including “confusion, inconsistency and poor communication”.
ACT schools are closed today due to industrial action by teachers. (ABC News: Adam Shirley)
They also cited “growing administrative burdens pulling teachers out of classrooms, a central office growing faster than schools, widening inequality between schools, rising occupational safety concerns, and inadequate support for students with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students”.
They said Ms Berry’s record on housing was “equally concerning”.
“Ombudsman reports, Auditor-General investigations, a Supreme Court finding that tenants’ human rights were breached, and evidence regarding failures in specialist disability accommodation all point to serious and sustained mismanagement within Housing ACT under Labor’s watch,” the statement said.
Mark Parton says the censure is “overdue”. (ABC News: Joel Wilson)
This morning, Canberra Liberals leader Mark Parton said there had been “continued, repeated failures in the critical portfolios of education and housing”.
Mr Parton said public schools were under continued pressure and the review revealed there had been widespread failures.
“We believe it is well overdue to censure this minister,” he said.
‘I know that they’re angry’
Ms Berry told ABC Radio Canberra that she was listening to the concerns of teachers.
“I know that they’re frustrated, I know that they’re angry, I know that they’re tired,” she said.
“I can see it in their faces and I see it when I’m speaking to them.
“I know they need to take this action to show the government that they need to be listened to. I want to assure them I am listening.“
Yvette Berry says she understands teachers are frustrated and is listening to their concerns. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)
She said she had called for the education review and that she accepted the criticism aimed at the public school system.
“I think I’m doing a good job in these portfolios and I have been engaging with stakeholders, particularly over the last couple of weeks, around education and in public housing,”
she said.
“I’ve tried to explain to both Mark Parton and [ACT Greens acting leader] Jo Clay on their censure, that of course there’s going to be reviews into my work, that’s what government’s about and it’s not there to tick off happy boxes.
“It’s there to identify gaps and issues and for me and the government to take them on board and respond to those recommendations.”
Teachers went on strike for a whole day in Canberra on June 11 amid negotiations with the ACT government. (ABC News: Adam Shirley)
She said other jurisdictions were watching how the ACT government responded to the review.
“It is such a significant change to our public school system,”
she said.
“It could never have happened overnight or without the expert advice of a review.
“In similar circumstances, the same with housing, I also referred my own directorate to the auditor-general because I was concerned about some of the things that were happening with regards to specialist disability accommodation.”
Minister taking ‘significant’ role in negotiations
Ms Berry said she had grown up in public housing and attended ACT public schools, and her commitment to both portfolios was “something I’ve lived and breathed all my life”.
“It’s not always easy and I’m not suggesting at all that I’m perfect, and that’s why I accept the criticism,” she said.
“I know that there needs to be more done, and that’s why I take it seriously.”
She said she had recently taken a more active role in negotiations with the union.
ACT teachers have raised concerns about staffing and workloads as they negotiate a new enterprise bargaining agreement. (ABC News: Adam Shirley)
“They have been working with the directorate to negotiate a new agreement,” she said.
“I know that hasn’t gone as well as they would have hoped, they haven’t had the clarity or certainty that they’ve required.
“I am actually taking a significant role in the negotiation of this agreement.“
She said there was some “complexity” to the negotiations and a “significant investment” needed to be made into “our schools continuing”.
