Tasmania’s educators have slammed the 2024-25 State Budget’s gross failure to act on the crisis facing our schools, colleges and TAFE campuses.
David Genford is the Tasmanian Branch President of the Australian Education Union.
“Minister Palmer and the Premier had an opportunity to send a positive message to educators at a time when morale is at rock bottom and record numbers are leaving the profession. Instead, they’ve turned their back on them,” said David Genford, Australian Education Union Tasmania Branch President.
“After enduring a decade of inequity and neglect, educators are now being faced with further cuts. Educators have been left in the dark about how ‘efficiency dividends’ will be applied, or where. This couldn’t come at a worse time, with educator morale at an all-time low.
“This Budget fails to address educators’ concerns. Nothing to address rising violence in classrooms, no investment in TAFE, no plan to fix the staffing crisis crushing our classrooms, or to implement the recommendations of the Education Review.”
David Genford
AEU Tasmania Branch President
“The ongoing staffing crisis has led to cut classes, crowded classrooms and unsafe workloads pushing educators past the breaking point. Psychological injury claims have increased 32% for teaching staff and 40% for other educators across DECYP.”
“This is a shocking indictment on a Government failing in its duty of care to students, educators and families, with no plan for change.”
“Educators are being forced to leave the state for safer workplaces and better supports on the mainland, or abandoning the profession altogether. It is heartbreaking to hear from educators no longer able to imagine a future in the careers they love.”
“Educators hoped that Minister Palmer’s willingness to meet and hear their solutions to the crisis in our schools reflected a change of course from her predecessor. Those hopes have been squashed.”
“Four years ago, 1 in 8 teachers planned to leave the profession before retirement. Today, it’s 1 in 3. Tasmania’s educators can’t afford another decade inequity and neglect. The Premier and Minister are asleep at the wheel. Our schools don’t have time to wait for action.”
“Educators will fight to secure the resources and supports required to fix this crisis, even if we have to drag the Rockliff Government kicking and screaming to the table.”
“This is an ideologically-driven budget from an out-of-control Treasurer. Not content with slashing half a billion dollars from services, the Treasurer is now proposing to raise his chaotic public sector wage cap from the grave.”
“With no plan to fix the damage being done in our schools, we’re now calling on the opposition and Tasmania’s crossbench MPs to use their vote to block further cuts to education and wage caps.”
MPs who signed the AEU’s public pledge to defend public education during the 2024 State Election include Labor, the Greens, as well as key crossbenchers Craig Garland MP (Braddon), Miriam Beswick MP (Braddon), David O’Byrne MP (Franklin) and Kristie Johnston (Clark).
