2020 STATE ELECTION SPECIAL EDITION - ELECTION AHEAD - QTU
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The professional and industrial voice of Queensland’s teachers and
school leaders in state schools and TAFE for more than 130 years.
P E C I A L E D I T I O N
LE C T I O N S
2020 STATE E
ELECTION
AHEAD
Visit www.qtu.asn.au/election-qld2020 for regular election
updates, or find us on facebook.com/queenslandteachersunion
The QTU and The QTU's priorities
the state • Increasing the state government expenditure to TAFE (as the public provider) to 80
per cent of the state’s vocational education and training (VET) expenditure.
election • Reducing teacher and principal workload to fewer than 42 hours per school week
during the term of government.
• Increasing state government expenditure on state schools to more than 69 per
The result of the Queensland
cent of the schooling Resource standard (SRS) during the term of the government.
state election will have major
• Protecting teachers, principals and TAFE educators from occupational violence,
implications for the state’s including physical, verbal, cyber – and sexual abuse and harassment.
public education system and
• Provision of alternative learning settings for disengaged students or students with
you, the teachers and school persistent behavioral problems.
leaders that are at its heart.
• A capital works program (including a share of stimulus funding) to:
That’s because whichever party is
elected on 31 October, be it ALP or » replace ageing school buildings
LNP, will become your employer, » upgrade the ICT capacity of all schools
giving it huge influence over your
working conditions and the resources » construct new schools to cater for growth across all sectors, including special
you receive to do your job. education.
That's why, in the lead up to the 2020 • The abolition of the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy
state election, your Union wrote to (NAPLAN) in its current form.
seven political parties in Queensland • The review of school curriculum to remove excess content and focus on essential
asking for their responses on 12 learnings for the future.
issues affecting education and
employment conditions. • Maintaining and maximising permanent employment for teachers, principals and
TAFE.
The list of 12 priorities (right) was
adopted by the QTU State Council in • At least one head of department (curriculum) in every primary school with
August. enrolments over 200 and every special school.
Rather than a comprehensive • A full-time teacher-aide (30 hours) in every primary and special school classroom.
statement of needs, it is designed to • Continued payment of employer superannuation contributions during unpaid
help you distinguish between the parental leave.
parties on a range of issues
Three parties responded - the ALP,
the LNP and the Greens - and their
responses are summarised elsewhere You can find the parties' full responses at:
in this special Journal. https://www.qtu.asn.au/election-qld2020
For the QTU’s approach to political and election engagement, visit:
https://www.qtu.asn.au/affiliations
Involvement in elections in schools and TAFE and on the resources
allocated to support our students.
The QTU Conference endorses the need
for the Union to communicate with
The 2019 QTU Conference Statement had members and the public about matters
The QTU is not affiliated with any political
the following to say about the Union's role that relate to achieving the policy
party but will continue to be involved in
in state and federal elections. objectives of the Union. This may include
election campaigns. QTU campaigns will
surveys, member to member phone calls
The QTU involvement in state and federal seek to elect governments and candidates
and other direct campaigning where
elections is directly connected to our who support teachers, school leaders,
candidates sign a pledge to support key
strategic objectives. The QTU Conference TAFE, public schools and workers’ rights.
Union issues.
confirms the need to continue to seek,
The QTU Conference supports the
through political campaigning and Conference Statement:
continued allocation of campaign
lobbying, influence over state and federal https://www.qtu.asn.au/conference/
resources, including QTU employee
education and training policy. These qtu-conference-statement-2019
time, to QTU election campaigns, while
government policies and the related
maintaining all other core business Strategic Objectives:
decisions of governments have a direct
services to members. https://www.qtu.asn.au/mission
impact on the working lives of members
Authorised by Graham Moloney, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers’ Union, 21 Graham St, Milton Q 4064 | October 2020Electing your employer
Each state election gives you a chance to vote for your employer –
an unusual opportunity of which to make the most.
This year, for the first time, the of further waves until a reliable vaccine is
government elected will be your widely available.
employer for the next FOUR YEARS.
Economically, the pandemic has
Each election, the QTU is involved in deepened a recession into which
talking to members in some way about Australia was almost certainly heading
the election because of the impact of anyway. The consequences of pandemic
the result on teachers and principals lockdown on the economy at least tipped
industrially and professionally and the governments, particularly the federal
resources available for public education. government but also Queensland, into
We would be derelict if we ignored such a deficit spending – as they should – to
significant event. stimulate the economy.
Comparing policies and Beyond issues of industrial relations and Anger is justified at the way Queensland
performance education, you should have an eye to: teachers and principals have been
treated. And we should not forget.
This election, the QTU’s involvement • which party you trust to address the
focuses mostly on a comparison of on-going risk of COVID-19 However, when I addressed the QTU
party responses to a list of key issues State Council in August about the QTU’s
• which party you trust to not only involvement in this election campaign, I
raised by the QTU to provide an insight
support people during the recession, said: “We have to put aside our legitimate
into educational policies, and on the
but position the economy for the anger and think clearly about what is
performance of the ALP and the LNP in
future benefit of Queenslanders going to be in the best interests of our
government.
through investment in people, skills members and the students in state
That is what this special edition of the and research, not just roads and schools and TAFE over the next four years.”
Queensland Teachers Journal is about. bridges.
Through the QTU website and These are not short-term issues. The Your vote is yours
Newsflashes, the QTU will also provide: impact of COVID-19 and the recession will In the end, as always, you will make your
• analysis of education and industrial not just disappear, no matter how much choice and cast your vote privately based
announcements during the election we hope. Notions like an early return to on your concerns and values.
campaign budget surplus are fanciful.
I did like a post in a previous election that
• links to the analysis of other unions Breaking agreements – ALP and said “Cast your vote not just for yourself
on key policy areas, e.g. the QNMU on LNP but for the most vulnerable person you
health know.” I offer that advice too for your
The Union’s involvement in this state consideration.
• analysis of industrial policies by the election is coloured by the decision of
Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) the Queensland ALP government this
on behalf of the QTU and other unions. year to legislatively override enterprise
bargaining agreements to defer pay rises.
The QTU’s last member survey in 2019
Some members agreed with the deferral
listed the two most important issues as
of pay rises, but the QTU opposed it and
workload and job security. How will the
still does.
promises and responses address those
Graham Moloney
two issues? This experience is not unique, however.
General Secretary
In 2012, the QTU reached an agreement
COVID-19 and recession with the incoming Newman LNP
This election, the stakes are even higher. government. The last stumbling block
Internationally, the COVID-19 pandemic was the inclusion of a clause on class
continues. It has been controlled sizes that the LNP government finally
successfully in Queensland to date after agreed to. In 2013, the same government
it became the first Australian state to legislated to override clauses in enterprise
declare a public health emergency. A bargaining agreements covering Click for a
cursory glance at Victoria, Europe or the workload (which includes class sizes), printable version
United States shows the continuing risk maximising permanency and more.
of this Journal
Visit www.qtu.asn.au/election-qld2020 for regular election updates,
or find us on facebook.com/queenslandteachersunionQTU priorities and what's been promised
Behaviour
Health, safety & Management and
TAFE Workload School expenditure wellbeing Support for Students Capital works
Increasing state Reducing teacher and Increasing state Protecting teachers, Provision of alternative A capital works program
government expenditure principal workload to less government principals and TAFE learning settings for (including a share of
QTU priority
on TAFE (as the public than 42 hours per school expenditure on state educators from disengaged students or stimulus funding) to:
provider) to 80 per cent week during the term of schools to more than occupational violence students with persistent replace ageing school
of the state’s vocational government 69 per cent of the (including physical, behavioural problems buildings; upgrade the
education and training schooling resource verbal, cyber) and sexual ICT capacity of all schools;
(VET) spend standard (SRS) abuse and harassment & cater for growth
during the term of through construction of
government new schools
Unable to make funding Will work with QTU re Zero tolerance to Send kids who commit Plan to air condition all
commitments, but will workload issues occupational violence occupational violence classrooms by 2028
support TAFE straight home Will install flashing school
Will discuss possible signs within regions
LNP
expansion of positive
learning centres
Committed to TAFE as a Implementation of Zero tolerance to Regional youth Nine new schools 2021-
strong, sustainable public outcomes from Term 3 occupational violence engagement hubs 2025
VET provider review Development of a safe Flexi-spaces in schools Will air condition all
Prepared to explore the Will increase NCT for and supportive school Link and launch program classrooms, staff rooms
extension of continuing beginning teachers in communities strategy and libraries by June 2022
secondary education 2021 15 positive learning
centres continue Will install solar panels
model implemented at Will increase NCT for on schools to offset air-
Alexandra Hills TAFE to primary and special conditioning costs
other institutes school teachers in 2022 $220m school upgrades
Equipping TAFE for Our Automated school annual
Future plan provides for Great Schools, Great
safety assessment for Future policy will provide
new, modern facilities chemical management
to skill Queenslanders in new, modern learning
ALP
both existing industries facilities. The $1 billion
and industries of the investment includes:
future, including: cyber • $433m for new
security training, robotics, classrooms and admin
hydrogen and resources, buildings
manufacturing, • $258m for halls and
agriculture, nursing and performing arts centres
allied health • $110m for infrastructure
Advocating for the upgrades and renewal
continuation of the Adult • $50m for shovel-ready
Migrant English Program school projects
(AMEP) • $20m planning for new
schools
Do not believe Extra $7 billion Will increase Work with the QTU to Support government’s Establish a $250m
government funding investment over four the Queensland close the legislative gaps inclusion policy for yearly public school
The Greens
should go to profit driven years for smaller class Government’s share students with special infrastructure fund to
private providers sizes, more teachers, of the schooling needs upgrade existing state
TAFE would receive 100 better resources and no resource standard Support the schools and build new
per cent of the state’s VET fees (SRS) to 80 per cent establishment of schools in areas of need
expenditure alternative learning Includes the ability to
settings to address upgrade school ICT
behaviours capacity
Click for a mobile-friendly version of this table
Authorised by Graham Moloney, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers’ Union, 21 Graham St, Milton Q 4064 | October 2020Gender employment
NAPLAN Curriculum Job security Staffing equity Other statements
The abolition of the Review school curriculum Maintaining and At least one head of Continued payment of
National Assessment to remove excess content maximising permanent department (curriculum) employer superannuation
Program Literacy and and focus on essential employment for teachers, in every primary school contributions during
Numeracy (NAPLAN) in its learnings for the future principals and TAFE above 200 and every unpaid parental leave
current form special school
A full-time teacher-aide
(30 hours) in every
primary and special
school classroom
Support the continuation Trial phonics screening Will discuss as part of EB 3,350 extra teachers Continue with existing Will continue and enhance
of NAPLAN from Term 3, 2021 negotiations between 2021 and 2025 arrangements and IPS program
No commitment to replace Back to basics approach 760 extra teacher-aides discuss superannuation
but will consult to the curriculum between 2021 and 2025 contributions in EB
Believes it gives Boost literacy and Encourage more school
transparency for parents numeracy standards by leavers to the profession
including English in SATE
Adopt a review modelled
on NSW reforms
Will advocate for Focus on P-10 review, Amendments to the Projects 4,000 extra Equitable access to paid Acknowledgement of
replacement of NAPLAN reading, writing and Public Service Act teachers in line with parental leave disagreement about public
mathematics provide for permanency enrolments 2021-2025 No commitment wage increase deferral
Investment in science, after one year Extended enrolment regarding Will ensure all increases
technology, engineering The default for threshold for HODCs superannuation on occur by the end of the
and mathematics (STEM) employment is to schools of between unpaid parental leave, agreements
Local decision- permanency, and this is 200 and 324 students but will continue gender End school early in 2020
making regarding the now in legislation (previously 225-324) equity reforms
implementation of the
curriculum
Commitment to realign,
declutter and refine the
curriculum
Abolish NAPLAN in its Support a review of Guarantee of Support the introduction Determined to close Worked with the state
current form the curriculum led by permanency at all levels of extra HoDCs the gender pay gap – government to secure a new
teachers, unions and of education – teachers, Support a full-time extend paid parental primary school on Brisbane’s
educational experts, HoPs, principals and TAFE teacher-aide in every leave arrangements to 6 west side, to be delivered
not politicians or Policy to provide more classroom months in 2023
commentators secure work to those in Spoke against and opposed
the gig economy etc salary increase freeze
Visit www.qtu.asn.au/election-qld2020 for regular election updates,
or find us on facebook.com/queenslandteachersunionTrack records in government How have the ALP and LNP state
governments performed in the past?
Behaviour
Management
School Health, safety and Support
TAFE Workload expenditure & wellbeing for Students Capital works
Transferred Central Queensland Attempted to remove Failed to sign up Changed Introduced Closed six state schools
TAFE to Central Queensland award provisions allowing to Gonski WorkCover Saturday
University (CQU) creating a two- professional development thresholds detentions, Sold off three school ovals
Distributed
tiered TAFE system during school time. "Investing for for bodily despite these
Opened 11 schools (two were already
Made all VET funding Tried to remove protections Success" (I4S) impairment, being outside
making industrial being built under previous government)
contestable, making TAFE a around maximum class funds to schools,
statutory authority rather than sizes but not on a claims against conditions Established Schools Planning
part of the public service. employers more
Oversized classes increased needs basis difficult
Planned to Commission, which failed to distinguish
By 2015, TAFE’s market share by 50 per cent when last introduce between private and public schools
had fallen to 30 per cent in in government, rising from bootcamps
competition with private 9,337 in 2012 to 14,226 in Closed the Barrett Centre, which
provided mental health and education
LNP
registered training organisations 2015
(RTOs) services for adolescents, and cut
Closed TAFE campuses and funding to a range of education
planned to sell parts of others, programs
including Ithaca, Maryborough,
Proposed widespread asset sales,
Bundaberg
despite strong public opposition
Defunded the Training
Ombudsman and cut the
Skilling Queenslanders for Work
program
Established the rescuing TAFE Continued maximum class Continued I4S Occupational Continued Opened the Cairns Special School,
initiative in 2018 and invested sizes in the agreement, and distribution to Violence early childhood established four new primary schools,
$22.8m in subsidised training included maximum class schools, but Prevention development planned for six new secondary schools,
Invested $105m in building and sizes for composite classes implemented Procedure program (ECDP) and provided additional funding for
upgrading TAFE infrastructure and risk assessment to a student need established funding state secondary school infrastructure
determine practical class based model Principal Health to accommodate the six full cohorts by
Increased the state contribution sizes 2020
to TAFE and Wellbeing
Committed to workload Strategy Opened Jacaranda Place, a new
Provided free TAFE to year 12 reviews, with the first residential centre to provide mental
graduates in 2018 Establishment
tranche of outcomes of three centres health and education services for
Established $15m TAFE priority announced in Term 3 for for learning adolescents. Opened a non-residential
training program in 2018 implementation from and wellbeing Barrett Centre for at risk students
Term 4 (CLAWs) Has opened 21 new schools since 2015
In 2019 announced skills
boost initiative for regional Included principles of good Staff Wellbeing including reopening Fortitude Valley as
Queensland, subsidising workload management Framework a secondary school. A further five are
upskilling in the agreement and currently being built and four more are
ALP
established the Workload planned
Provided free apprenticeships
Advisory Council, including Invested $200 million in Advancing
for under 21-year-olds in 2019
a statewide submission Queensland to deliver 30 new school
Funded TAFE Queensland to process halls
develop and deliver COVID-safe
Increased non-contact time 2020 Ready program delivered 61
training across industries
for beginning teachers additional classrooms for existing state
from 2021 and primary and secondary schools
special school teachers
from 2022 Through Renewing Our Schools,
delivered 44 projects in 26 schools to
Decreased mandatory create new and refurbished learning
professional development spaces, multi-purpose halls and
hours to 25 a year in 2020 performing arts centres
Tripled the investment in school
infrastructure from $500 million in 2015
to $1.5 billion in 2020
Click for a mobile-friendly version of this table
Authorised by Graham Moloney, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers’ Union, 21 Graham St, Milton Q 4064 | October 2020Gender
employment
NAPLAN Curriculum Job security Staffing equity Other
Committed to Queensland Sacked government Funded full-time Made changes to legislation making clauses in
becoming the first state or employees, despite teacher-aides for agreements and awards inoperable, including those
territory to implement the claiming before the 536 prep classes covering:
entire Australian Curriculum, 2012 election that Cut more than • job security
ignoring workload there was nothing to 500 teacher • union encouragement
intensification concerns worry about from an positions in 2013 • industrial relations education leave
the QTU raised on behalf LNP government
of members, including the Attempted to strip away industrial protections from
Introduced “award more than 20 of the working conditions of teachers
amount of content in the modernisation”
curriculum, and refused to and principals, including maximum class sizes,
processes that stripped workload management, the transfer system, and
delay its implementation away job security maximisation of permanency
Began a review of the OP provisions from awards
system and agreements Undermined the transfers and relocation process
and removed QTU representatives from panels
Removed QTU and IEU – QNT Through Great Teachers
representation on the board = Great Results, Proposed performance pay for teachers, and “bonus
of the Queensland Studies attempted to impose pay” decided at the principal’s discretion
Authority (now QCAA) fixed-term contracts on Attempted to freeze beginning teachers’ pay for
principals and deputy three years as part of EB7
principals; also tried Introduced IPS, undermining the transfer and
to force school leaders relocations process
to obtain a business
or commerce higher
qualification to qualify
Conducted a Delayed the implementation Ruled out contracts Funded full-time Made changes First state government to implement pandemic
review of NAPLAN of the Australian Curriculum, for principals and teacher-aides for to paid parental leave for employees
at the state level requiring that PD be provided deputy principals and all prep classes, leave Ended Term 1 2020 early to enable preparation for
and participated in prior to implementing new brought executive increasing the Allowed remote learning
tri-state review curriculum areas. principals back into the number in for annual
classification structure schools by 1,500 Introduced domestic and family violence leave
Deferred the Directed QCAA to define a progression of
introduction of core Australian Curriculum, Reintroduced FTE since 2015 salaries, despite Reintroduced QTU reps on promotional panels
NAPLAN Online to alleviate workload employment security 6,000 additional fraction Restored industrial legislation (Industrial Relations
implications and pressure on policy for government teachers since Act 2016)
students. employees, including 2015
Legislated deferral of pay increases in 2019 EB
Reintroduced QTU voice on arrangements to make 875 teachers agreement
QCAA. school purchased over enrolment
positions permanent increases in its
Delayed the implementation
of the new SATE system first term
Restored Fanfare and MOST,
showing commitment to
the arts as part of school
curriculum
Provided funding to boost
STEM partnerships and
programs in schools
Committed to increase NCT
for beginning teachers from
2021 and primary and special
school teachers from 2022
Introduced the Assessment
and Moderation Hub
Visit www.qtu.asn.au/election-qld2020 for regular election updates,
or find us on facebook.com/queenslandteachersunionRebuild our economy to put Workers want government to
Queensland workers first invest in our people and grow
COVID-19 has created the greatest economic our economy
crisis in the past 100 years. Our recovery from
this crisis requires governments to step up Queensland workers have identified the issues
and rebuild our economy. important to them and their families at the state
election.
After the Second World War, Australian governments rebuilt
Australia by investing in our people, our community, and our Secure jobs
infrastructure. This led to an economic boom in the years Casualisation creates financial insecurity for Queensland
that followed. workers and their communities. Workers need secure jobs
We face a similar crisis today. with decent conditions to plan their future.
At the 31 October Queensland state election we need to Ending wage theft
elect a government that will rebuild our economy to put Wage theft costs workers $1.2 billion annually. Queensland
Queensland workers first. now has laws that criminalise deliberate wage theft and make
Queensland Council of Unions General Secretary Michael wage recovery easier. Workers want these laws kept.
Clifford said the next government should not waste the
opportunity to fashion an exciting future for Queensland. Safe workplaces
Every worker has the right to come home safe at day's end.
“Austerity is not the way forward for Queensland,” he said. Stronger workplace safety laws must be protected and
“If we believe in our people and grow our economy, we will enforced.
be in the best place to set up our communities for the future.
Licensing for all labour hire operators
“We should be expanding and enhancing our vital Queensland's nation-leading labour hire licensing laws are
community facilities and services in schools and TAFE. stamping out dodgy operators and protecting workers from
“Governments also need to prioritise training our young exploitation.
people so that we have the skills we need for the future.”
Investing in services
Unions are targeting ten electorates across Queensland Queensland workers and their local communities need a
as part of a statewide campaign to ensure a worker-first government that invests in education, health, mental health,
recovery from the effects of the pandemic. disabilities and community safety services to support their
Workplace delegations are also visiting local MPs and needs.
candidates seeking support for a ‘I’m For Workers” pledge.
Building infrastructure
You can find out more about the combined For Qld Workers Queensland workers support public investment in drought-
campaign and sign up to join local and statewide actions to proofing, renewables, waste recycling, and green hydrogen
make sure workers are at the centre of our recovery at: projects and initiatives in the regions.
www.forqldworkers.org.au
The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) is the peak union body in Queensland, with 26 affiliated unions representing the interests of more
than 350,000 Queensland workers. The QTU is the second largest affiliated union.
Visit www.qtu.asn.au/election-qld2020 for regular election updates,
or find us on facebook.com/queenslandteachersunion
Authorised by Graham Moloney, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers’ Union, 21 Graham St, Milton Q 4064 | October 2020You can also read
