Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...

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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009
(3) 35.
(4) None.
(5) to (8) Figures are not organised by electoral areas.
(9) $3 million funding is allocated for the 2009⁄10 financial year.
*7462 TAFE TEACHERS—Ms Clover Moore asked the Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for
Women—
With respect to Government proposals for TAFE teachers:
(1) Will the Government pay wage increases for TAFE teachers only if teachers:
(a) teach an extra 71 hours each year;
(b) work beyond limits on weekly working hours; and
(c) accept fewer hours for professional development?
(2) Will these changes mean the loss of 500 full-time teaching positions across NSW?
(3) Would these changes reduce expenditure by three times more than the value of the wage increase
offered?
(4) What is the Government's rationale for this proposal?
(5) What assessment has the Government made of the impact of this ongoing dispute on TAFE programs
and students?
(6) What plans does the Government have to ensure appropriate wages and conditions that recognise the
importance of TAFE programs and TAFE teachers?
Answer—
(1) No. This matter was the subject of arbitration proceedings before the Full Bench of the Industrial
Relations Commission on 14-17 September 2009. The Government will abide by the outcome of
those proceedings as determined by the Industrial Relations Commission.
(2) No. There will not be a reduction of 500 full-time teaching positions across NSW. Such a reduction
would be neither sustainable nor desirable.
(3) No. The Department of Education and Training is only seeking to fund the salary increases above
2.5% per annum. To do this the Department has sought further employee related reforms and cost
savings measures that improve the operational efficiency and competitiveness of TAFE NSW to
offset the cost of the salary increases above 2.5% each year as provided for in the Crown Employees
(Teachers in TAFE and Related Employees, Bradfield College and Teachers in TAFE Children's
Centres) Salaries and Conditions Award 2009.
(4) The NSW Public Sector Wages Policy 2007, which was developed to ensure that all NSW public
sector organisations meet the objectives of section 13 of the Fiscal Responsibility (NSW) Act 2005.
(5) The Government has endeavored throughout 2009 to finalise this matter through available
mechanisms and has engaged in extensive negotiation and conciliation proceedings. The Department
and the union agreed to a process in January 2009 whereby the further employee related reforms
required to fund the additional salary increases above 2.5% each year would be identified and
finalised.
(6) Under the TAFE teachers award permanent and temporary teachers and related employees receive
salary increases of 4.4% from January 2009, 3.8% from January 2010, and 3.8% from January 2011.
That is a 12.48% cumulative salary increase over the life of the award. These salary increases mean
that NSW TAFE teachers remain the highest paid TAFE teachers in Australia while delivering the
least amount of direct teaching hours.
The salary increases delivered under the TAFE award and the reform measures sought are fair and
reasonable and meet the community's expectation that salary increases will not increase costs to the
community or reduce services. The outcome will help NSW maintain its position of delivering high
quality educational outcomes to students.
*7463 DEPARTMENT OF PREMIER AND CABINET—Mr Jonathan O'Dea asked the Premier, and Minister
for the Arts—
(1) What was the number of equivalent full time employees in the Department of Premier and Cabinet as
at:
(a) 30 June 2008;
(b) 30 June 2009?
(2) What was the number of contractors and consultants engaged by the Department of Premier and
Cabinet:
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