Hodgman and Rockliff’s action shows no intention of meaningful negotiations

Tasmanian Labor
  • Liberals enter today’s meeting with minds made up
  • Hodgman and Rockliff’s arrogance blatantly on show with school closure decision
  • The decision to close schools throughout Tasmania next week before a fresh round of wage talks was due to take place today shows the Hodgman Liberal Government never had any intention of negotiating in good faith.

    Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said it was shameful the Premier and his Education Minister Mr Rockliff took the opportunity to close schools rather than the opportunity to hold meaningful talks with teachers.

    ‘Today’s meeting with public sector unions including teachers was scheduled for 10am and at 9.30am, the government made its priority to tell parents and students they were going to close 136 schools next week,” Mr Willie said

    “Their first priority should have been sitting down with the union to ascertain whether this issue could be resolved.

    “The government cannot honestly say it is negotiating in good faith when Tasmanians can see Mr Hodgman and Mr Rockliff are more interested in continuing to play games.

    “The school closures announcement would never have been made prior to today’s meeting with teachers if the government had any intention of negotiating in good faith.

    “The arrogance is extraordinary.

    “These negotiations have now been dragging on unacceptably for nine months because the government is incapable of acting reasonably.

    “Teachers do not take this action lightly and, if anything, they would prefer to avoid it.

    “But Premier Hodgman and his Education Minister have pushed them into a corner all the while Mr Rockliff continues to claim – unreasonably and untruthfully – that wage negotiations are out of his hands.”

    Josh Willie MLC

    Shadow Education Minister

    /Public Release. View in full here.