Greens strongly support
The Greens candidates for Coogee, Vaucluse, Maroubra, and Heffron have announced that they are working to ensure that the findings of the recently released Vinson enquiry are implemented.
The Inquiry, commissioned by the Teachers Federation and the P&C Federation, was established in response to wide-spread frustration with the failure of successive state governments to address the needs of public education.
The Greens support the recommendations of the Inquiry and will be bringing forward Upper House Member's legislation to address the recommendations, in the absence of Government action.
After the four candidates attended a Sky Channel linkup at the Randwick-Coogee RSL on Wednesday Coogee candidate Murray Matson said,
"Properly resourced public education is fundamental to social justice and it is vital that funding be increased in a number of areas to ensure that public education can function to maximum capacity,"
The link-up was held around the state, and was for launching the report and informing teachers, parents and the community about what they can do to ensure the recommendations are implemented.
Maroubra candidate Rik Jurcevic described the role education would play in their election campaign.
"The Greens are again making public education a major campaign issue for the 2003 election, and will be particularly focusing on reduced class sizes, funding for children with special needs, professional development funds for teachers, properly maintained public school buildings, improved teachers salaries and an end to the funding of the wealthiest private schools.
Teachers needed to be adequately remunerated and The Greens want to see minimum public sector teacher salaries of 110% of average weekly earnings immediately, rising to 150% by 2010."
Vaucluse candidate Rory O'Gorman stated that NSW compared badly against other states. He said
"NSW spends less than all states except WA on primary school education. An additional $218 million is needed to bring it up to the national average. And NSW spends less than all states on secondary education, with an additional $100 million needed for it to reach the national average."
Australia ranks 22 out of 29 OECD countries in terms of investment in education. Heffron candidate Will Smith also attended the Sky Channel linkup.
For more information, contact Murray Matson on (02) 9661-9413.