COALITION AND XENOPHON ACTIONS MOST DISAPPOINTING

“A once in a generation opportunity to act decisively, to support Australian jobs and to substantially improve school infrastructure has disappointingly been frustrated by the Coalition and Senator Xenophon” said Independent Education Union of Australia Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

“It has been forty years since such a massive investment into school infrastructure has been put on the table, only to be stymied at time when bipartisanship should prevail” said Mr Watt.

“The school building package has been welcomed by all stakeholders in the Australian school community” he said.

“One has to wonder what the Opposition has against schools” said Mr Watt.  “After a decade in government spent deriding teachers, they attempted to block the school funding agreements that pay staff wages late last year and now they’ve blocked monies to build infrastructure.”

“One wonders therefore why Senator Xenophon is prepared to align himself with such a parsimonious approach to education.”

“The IEUA calls on the Coalition and Senator Xenophon to act in the best interests of the Australian schooling sector and immediately pass the amended legislation.”

“We know that school authorities have already begun work on making the most of this opportunity.”

“Let there be no doubt as to who will be held accountable if commonsense doesn’t prevail” said Mr Watt.