Hatz inherits Della's mess

Dr Kaye said: "Public schools and TAFE colleges should not become the collateral damage of the Iguanagate affair.
 
"Acting Minister Hatzistergos can't just tread water waiting for John Della Bosca or his successor to take the helm.
 
"He will need to sit down with the Teachers Federation and do what his predecessor refused to do.
 
"The situation is critical with school and TAFE teachers driven to industrial action, worried that any further delays will inflict irreversible damage on public education.
 
"Minister Della Bosca allowed his department head Michael Coutts-Trotter to force through a new teacher transfer system that is set to rob remote and hard-to-staff schools of qualified teachers.
 
"He also let the Department of Education and Training unilaterally downgrade the qualifications requirements for permanent TAFE teachers.
 
"Both threaten the quality of public education and training in NSW.
 
"Both have met with strenuous opposition from teachers.
 
"This is an unnecessary and appalling situation created by John Della Bosca's inability to tell his department to negotiate with the union.
 
"The worst possible outcome would be stagnation and neglect. Public schools and TAFE colleges can't afford to wait around until the allegations against the former Minister are resolved.
 
"It is time to withdraw both the staffing transfer changes and the downgrading of TAFE teacher qualifications.
 
"John Hatzistergos has to prove he has the stuff to be an education minister by respecting the need to staff difficult and remote schools and protecting the professionalism of TAFE teachers," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455