1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: As you heard me discussing a little bit earlier this morning, 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: we know that the Labor government yesterday before we went 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: into caretake the mode, they said that they're continuing to 4 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,120 Speaker 1: invest in getting territory students. 5 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 2: We'll hang on. That's another one. 6 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: That's work ready by securing a wages agreement with the 7 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: territory public school teachers. So we've got the teachers agreement 8 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: in terms of the pay, but then we've also got 9 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: these landmark decisions that were all these landmark well contracts 10 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,319 Speaker 1: that were signed off, I guess should say agreements that 11 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: were signed off. 12 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 2: So essentially all Northern Territory. 13 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: Schools are going to be fully funded by the Australian 14 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: and Northern Territory governments following a historic bilateral agreement that 15 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: was signed yesterday, both governments signing that bilateral agreement to 16 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: increase funding for all schools in the Northern Territory to 17 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: one hundred percent of the Schooling Resource Standard by twenty 18 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: twenty nine. The Northern Territory government also yesterday so well 19 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: you know, before they went into caretakeing mode, also signed 20 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: the new National, Better and Fairer Schools Agreements. So these 21 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:05,199 Speaker 1: bilateral agreements formalize the statement of intent that was signed 22 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: by both governments earlier this year, and under the agreement, 23 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: the Australian Government's going to invest an additional seven hundred 24 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: and thirty seven point seven million dollars from twenty five 25 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,279 Speaker 1: to twenty nine in Northern Territory public schools. The Northern 26 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: Territory government committed to investing an additional estimated three hundred 27 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: and fifty million over the same period. Joining us live 28 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: on the line right now is the Australian Education Union 29 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: NT President Michelle Airs. 30 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Michelle, Good morning Catie. 31 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: Michelle, tell us a little bit more about these two 32 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: agreements that were signed and what they're going to mean 33 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: in terms of funding for Northern Territory schools. 34 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 3: So yesterday was a big day for Northern Territory education. 35 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 3: The one billion dollar announcement is huge. We did hear 36 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 3: it in March. But what's happened now is that the 37 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 3: documents and agreement that has been signed forms that finding 38 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 3: contract with the federal government. That means that no matter 39 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 3: the outcome of this election at the end of the month, 40 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 3: this funding is going to flow into the Northern Territory 41 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 3: until twenty twenty nine. And then what it also does 42 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 3: is it places a number of conditions on that funding 43 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 3: things that the federal government wants to see in order 44 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 3: to continue to invest in the Northern Territory and in education, 45 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 3: and then outcomes that should be reported against. 46 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: And so Michelle, in terms of you know, like for 47 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: parents out there listening this morning, what does it mean 48 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: for their kids? 49 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 3: For kids in the LN Territory, it means a chance 50 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 3: at a proper education. We've had an underfunded education system 51 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 3: in the Northern Territory at least the last ten years, 52 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 3: probably you know ongoing before that, but we've had a 53 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 3: really chronically underfunded education system for the last ten years, 54 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 3: and you can see the results of that when you 55 00:02:55,440 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 3: look at our streets. Education is the foundation of citizenship, right, 56 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 3: so if we can get that right, we can make 57 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 3: long term, lasting change. But none of it is possible 58 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 3: without good quality teachers. And that's where the Enterprise Agreement 59 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 3: comes in. So while the federal government was working with 60 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 3: an anti government on the bilateral Agreement, we the Union 61 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 3: were working very carefully and closely and hard with the 62 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 3: Department of Education to come up with an enterprise agreement 63 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 3: that would attract teachers here and keep them here, keep 64 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 3: the ones that we already have so that we can 65 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 3: so that we can implement the things that are in 66 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 3: that bilateral agreement. 67 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: So it seems like it seems like a really good 68 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: move in terms of, you know, having that funding for 69 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: our Northern Territory school students and also ensuring really that 70 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: teachers and schools have the resources that they need. 71 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it might seem, like I said before, like 72 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 3: a lot all in one day, but really it's good 73 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 3: common sense if you think about it, and we aren't 74 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 3: necessarily used to seeing that when it comes to anti politics, 75 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 3: but this is a good common sense decision by both 76 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 3: governments to you know, make that sustainable change and go, well, 77 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 3: hang on, we won't be able to do that without 78 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 3: the teachers, so we need to make sure we get 79 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 3: that right first. That's that's kind of the kind of 80 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 3: political thinking we're just not used to win the NT. 81 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 3: So it is a bit jarring in my opinion. 82 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: Well, and it's also I suppose the timing of it. 83 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: Michelle has got a few people sort of raising their 84 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: eyebrows going, oh, hang on a second, why has it 85 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: taken them to a day before we go into care 86 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,679 Speaker 1: taker own, you know, to make these to make these 87 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: things happen. And one of the you know, the sticking 88 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 1: points I think yesterday as well was that our Northern 89 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: Territory teachers have been fighting for a pay increase for 90 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: you know, for a long time. Like you and I 91 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 1: have discussed this on numerous occasions, and yesterday we finally 92 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: learned that that there is well an in principal new 93 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: enterprise agreement that's going to deliver a salary increase of 94 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: about thirteen percent over the next three years, with all 95 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: classroom teachers moving up an increment point. Now, look, I 96 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: want to say right from the outset, I'm very supportive 97 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: of teachers. I think that this is a great move, 98 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: but I just thought the timing of it was really 99 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: quite questionable. As I said the day before we go 100 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: into caretaker mode. How come it took until yesterday from 101 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: your perspective. 102 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, that's a great question, and it isn't a 103 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 3: mistake that that's happened that way. We've worked really hard, 104 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 3: as I said before, with an antique government since. 105 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 2: November last year. 106 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 3: We went to them and said there's going to be 107 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 3: a new government next year. We have a short amount 108 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 3: of time to negotiate a new enterprise agreement because that 109 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 3: one if you remember, from twenty twenty two to twenty 110 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 3: twenty one to twenty twenty two, we battled the wage freeze. 111 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 3: We signed a short enterprise agreement at that point that 112 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 3: covers our teachers until October of this year. If we 113 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 3: didn't work hard with the government to get something across 114 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 3: the line by yesterday, when the government goes into caretaker period, 115 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 3: we would have had to stop negotiating until there was 116 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,119 Speaker 3: a new government. At that point, it was a little 117 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 3: bit of an unknown as to where we would go, 118 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 3: and the issue there is that we wouldn't be able 119 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 3: to start negotiating again until September, and with our agreement 120 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,840 Speaker 3: expiring in October, that was really pushing the line. And 121 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 3: even more important deadline than that is that we meet 122 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 3: our principles, need to be able to be recruiting teachers 123 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 3: here to start twenty twenty five. That work starts now. 124 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 3: Teachers are planning their moves for twenty twenty five now, 125 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 3: so we really needed to push this agreement forward as 126 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 3: soon as possible before the caretaker period. We would have 127 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 3: rather do it much sooner than we did. We really 128 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,239 Speaker 3: had to push it right out to the line because 129 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 3: the government first off came with an offer that we 130 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 3: weren't that really didn't address our concerns. And at the 131 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 3: end of the day we said to them, look, we're 132 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 3: not the caretaker period, We're not going to be held 133 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 3: hostage to it. If you don't come up with what 134 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 3: works for us, well we'll take that risk and we'll 135 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 3: see it through. And so they went back to the 136 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 3: drawing board, looked at our concerns and actually did come 137 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 3: up with something that addressed most maybe not quite all 138 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 3: of them, but most of our concerns. 139 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: Did you think that it wasn't going to get there 140 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: when it got to sort of earlier in the week 141 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: and your new caretake made was coming up. 142 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 2: Oh, I had. 143 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 3: Pretty much written it off a couple of weeks ago. 144 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 3: We're back in September. Because these things they move so 145 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 3: interestingly in the government, and there's so many mechanations that 146 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 3: have to move in order for it off or like 147 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 3: this to be made. It seemed like that was going 148 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 3: to be a massive task to do. But at the 149 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 3: end of the day, I think it was the anti 150 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 3: government and even I think I suspect it went to 151 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 3: the chiefs are saying, we need to settle this now 152 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 3: for our teachers, because we can't go into twenty twenty 153 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 3: five with no teachers, and that's what we were staring down, 154 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 3: and that's a massive risk that I believe our government 155 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 3: wasn't prepared to take. 156 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: What do you think it's going to mean now in 157 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: terms of being able to recruit teachers? As I understand it, 158 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 1: and please correct me if I'm wrong, but as I 159 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: understand it, it does put our teachers amongst the best paid 160 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: in the country. What is it going to mean in 161 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: terms of retaining and recruiting. 162 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 3: Yes, it puts our teachers not only the best paid 163 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 3: in the country at base salary rate, so without taking 164 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 3: into account any kind of remote benefits or anything like that, 165 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 3: but at the base salary rate, we are more than 166 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 3: I think it's about four thousand dollars higher at our 167 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 3: graduate level than our nearest competitor, which is ACT and 168 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 3: at some salary levels where more than twenty thousand dollars 169 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 3: higher at the graduate level and at our CT nine level, 170 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 3: which is our most experienced teachers in the NT. So actually, yeah, 171 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 3: it does really provide a great incentive for people to 172 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 3: come here and people to stay here, and that was 173 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 3: what we were determined to achieve because when we look 174 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 3: at the context of education in Australia, we've got places 175 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 3: in Victoria and New South Wales offering huge remote benefits 176 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 3: that these places like Darwin is more remote than those places. 177 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 3: So we said that was always our sort of our plan. 178 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 3: The base salary in the Northern Territory has to be 179 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 3: far and above the highest in order to bring people 180 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 3: here because remote benefits just won't put it when the 181 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 3: whole NT is remote. 182 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: Now, I don't know if this is something you know 183 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: the answer to, because obviously it's up to the government 184 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: to manage. But do we have any idea how much 185 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: it's going to cost across the board? 186 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 3: That is a good question, and no, I'm pubbably not 187 00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 3: able to give you. 188 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: I thought i'd go on out there just in case 189 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: something got messing mentioned at the up you know, the 190 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: press conference yesterday or something, Michelle, but we'll try and. 191 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 2: Follow that up. Look, I really appreciate your. 192 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: Time this morning as always, and no doubt we'll probably 193 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: talk to you as well before the election. Thanks so 194 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: much for having a chat with us this morning. 195 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 3: I will and what I will say, just in answer 196 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 3: to your last question, I guess before I go, we 197 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 3: don't know how much it will cost, but it will 198 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 3: be a mere fraction of this type of funding that 199 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:31,199 Speaker 3: was announced yesterday, and again just that reminder that without 200 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 3: those rates we will not be able to achieve the 201 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 3: outcomes that were announced as part of that funding. 202 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:38,079 Speaker 2: Hey, can I just ask a really quick one. 203 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: This is something that you may not sort of you know, 204 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: you may not have formed an opinion on in terms 205 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: of the union, but it might be something we can 206 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: go back to another point. It's something that's been raised 207 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: with us by a few people as we lead into 208 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: the election. What is the Education Union stance when it 209 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: comes to school based constables and is that something that 210 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: you guys want to see in the schools. I know 211 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: we certainly have an iteration I guess of police in 212 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: our schools, but you know, back to that sort of 213 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: that higher level I guess, and more of them in 214 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 1: our schools. 215 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, I can answer that we would love to 216 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 3: see a return to a program where there are school 217 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 3: based constables based in every high school in the Northern Territory. 218 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 3: We see them as an incredibly valuable resource when it 219 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 3: comes to that holistic learning that students do, and that 220 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 3: holistic approach to I guess, becoming full civilians. And that's 221 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 3: what education is about at the end of the day. 222 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:41,359 Speaker 3: It's about turning children into adults that can operate in society. 223 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 3: So yeah, absolutely, I think that we need to be 224 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 3: taking a hard look at that, and I do believe 225 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 3: that the Education Department is going to work on those 226 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 3: kind of things as part of this new deal with 227 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 3: federal government. 228 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: All right, well, good to speak to you this morning, Michelle, 229 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 1: thanks so much for your time. 230 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 3: Thank you, hete, thank you.