The Education Minister, Jeremy Rockliff, is treating Tasmania's teaching profession with disdain by encouraging parents to discuss the Government's latest wage offer with their children's teachers.
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years, Josh Willie MLC, said the Minister's opinion piece in today's Mercury was disrespectful to Tasmanian teachers.
"It is highly inappropriate for Minister Rockliff to be asking parents to discuss the Government's wage offer with their children's teachers and encouraging them to accept it," Mr Willie said.
"The classroom is no place for this kind of politics, instead the Minister should be encouraging parents to discuss their children's learning outcomes with their teachers.
"You wouldn't expect a patient to talk to their doctor about their salary negotiations so why would parents be expected to talk to teachers about theirs?
"It's attitudes like Mr Rockliff's that hamper the important work of our teachers, rather than giving them the support they so desperately need.
"How on earth is Mr Rockliff going to attract quality aspiring teachers to the profession with his current attitude?
"He keeps talking up his Government's commitment to teachers but then continues to fail to come to an agreement which values their true worth.
"Mr Rockliff should be focusing his efforts on his colleagues, including the Treasurer, to make sure teachers, principals and support staff are given the remuneration and respect they deserve."
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
