Startling Admission Shows Government Has Lost Control of Education in Queensland

Hinchinbrook MP and KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto.

2 September 2024

The Minister for Education recently made a startling admission that our state’s teachers are working in increasingly complex classroom environments where physical and verbal abuse can occur on the daily, an admission that Hinchinbrook MP and Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) says is an indictment of the government’s failure to maintain order and safety in Queensland state schools.

During this year’s budget estimates, in a candid statement, the Minister acknowledged: “…if the average person knew of the physical and verbal abuse that teachers experience—that is happening in schools every single day right across the state—they would be shocked.”

Mr Dametto said it was about time the greater public also understood the grim reality that confronts educators including the significant disconnect between government rhetoric and the support that is actually provided to teachers on the ground.

“The comments by the Education Minister are deeply troubling, not only for what they reveal about the state of our schools but also for the government’s glaring failure to protect those on the front lines of education,” Mr Dametto said.

“The Minister attempted to water down her admission with a claim that, despite the daily violence, there was “zero tolerance for occupational violence in our schools,” a statement that is simply irreconcilable with the reality that educators face daily.

“The claim of “zero tolerance” appears disingenuous when the government’s actions—or lack thereof—continue to leave teachers vulnerable and unsupported.

“Teachers deserve the same rights as every other worker, to work in a safe and risk-free environment. This includes real, tangible support within the workplace.

“It is alarming to know that in May this year, planned teacher strikes were ruled out of order, effectively silencing and depriving teachers of their fundamental right to protest working conditions that have become untenable.

“Teachers are qualified to deliver education, however, through the complexity of societal changes and development, including a lack of parental rights, discipline and control, teachers have become far more than just educators and are not being adequately supported to navigate the unchartered waters they are currently in.”

The Hinchinbrook MP said that he wanted to see an immediate and comprehensive review of the policies currently failing Queensland’s teachers with the focus being solely on teachers, and with all educators given the opportunity to provide open and transparent feedback.

“Too often, teachers’ rights are over-shadowed by the needs of students, or the academic performance of each school. Not to say that those things aren’t important, but they can be considered separately. In any workplace there is often a direct correlation between worker satisfaction and the overall output and achievements of that workplace. If we can address the problems that our educators are facing, increased wellbeing of students and academic performance will surely follow.

“The current state of affairs is unacceptable, and whilst there may be no quick fix, at least allowing teachers to speak up and be heard would be a positive starting point.”

In the last four years, a total of 12,375 teachers and teacher aides resigned from state schools across Queensland.

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