Queensland government refuses to say when it'll release landmark school review
The Queensland government is refusing to say when it will release a two-year landmark review into teacher resourcing.
The Comprehensive Review of School Resourcing, conducted from 2023, examined factors including funding, teacher shortages and workload, and staff and student welfare.
It's expected to recommend a new resourcing model to manage the issues.
The government is currently locked in pay negotiations with the Queensland Teachers Union (QTU), with its bargaining agreement due to expire in two weeks.
On Wednesday afternoon, it offered a wage increase of 8 per cent over three years, short of what the union is seeking.
The QTU has previously said a pay offer also needed to include a commitment to implement the outcomes of the review.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the review was "being worked on" and would be "revealed in the relatively near future", but that wouldn't be before the wage agreement ended.
"There are no sinister reasons for us not having had more public discussions about the school resourcing review. The enterprise bargaining agreement expires in 11 days," he said.
The government received the report in December and state cabinet has not yet considered it.
"It's the first review in over 30 years of school resourcing, so we had to work through it methodically and calmly," Mr Langbroek said.
"It also needs to go to cabinet and we don't talk about what happens in cabinet."
In a statement, the QTU said it was "appalled" by the government's refusal to release the review.
It said it was using it to "strengthen its position ahead of enterprise bargaining negotiations".
"Clearly, the decision to hide this report from public view is strategic and not in the interests of transparency and accountability, two key elements the premier campaigned on at the state election.
"In simple terms, this government is hiding a detailed report to ignore the true issues because it doesn't fit its agenda."
Opposition leader Steven Miles called on the state government to release the review.
"Queensland parents want to know that their schools are properly resourced. Queensland teachers want to know that their government and their minister have their back.
"I'd simply say to John-Paul Langbroek, what are you hiding here? Why are you afraid of this report?"
In a letter, Department of Education Director-General Sharon Schimming offered teachers a 3 per cent pay increase next financial year and a 2.5 per cent increase for the following two years.
"This offer also aims to create a replacement agreement that is easy to navigate, has a focus on employee entitlements, is clearer and more accessible for principals and senior leaders to understand their industrial obligations and supports greater workforce flexibility," she said.
Prior to the pay offer being made, Mr Langbroek said "significant negotiations" had taken place.
The QTU — boasting 48,000 members — has stated it would push for "nation-leading salaries and conditions".
Teachers are the latest frontline workers the government needs to secure new bargaining agreements with.
Pay negotiations with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union broke down last month, with the health workers taking industrial action for the first time since 2002.
Agreements with police and firefighters also need to be brokered, totalling more than 260,000 public sector employees.
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