Fix this text
EDUCATION
Fix this textJOURNAL OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES TEACHERS FEDERATION
Fix this textAgreement No. PP255003 00104
Fix this textVo 1. 82 No. 13 December 10, 2001
Fix this textCarr warned on workers comp
Fix this textby John Hennessy
Fix this textThe price of alienating the workers: union disgruntlement was a
Fix this textmajor factor in the ousting of two previous Labor governments
Fix this textin NSW. John Renshaw led the ALP to defeat in 1965 and Barrie
Fix this textUnsworth did the same in 1988. Will Bob Carr follow them?
Fix this textditions in NSW when it sought to
Fix this textmodify entitlements to workers com-
Fix this textpensation.
Fix this textUnionists, doctors, lawyers and
Fix this textall those people who supported a
Fix this textfair workers compensation system
Fix this textwere united in their opposition to the
Fix this textproposed system.
Fix this textThe first stage of that opposition
Fix this textculminated with the now famous
Fix this textpicket line around Parliament House.
Fix this textLabor members, in some cases
Fix this textassisted by police, broke the picket
Fix this textand the Premier displayed unparal-
Fix this textleled arrogance as he paraded along
Fix this textthe verandahs of Parliament House.
Fix this textThe first steps were taken to under-
Fix this textmine workers’ conditions.
Fix this textThroughout the campaign that
Fix this textfollowed, the unions were guided by
Fix this textthe principle “that no injured worker
Fix this textshould be worse off”. A team of nego-
Fix this texttiators who spoke to a wide audi-
Fix this textence of workers via Sky Channel
Fix this texthave spent the best part of the year
Fix this textcampaigning to hold the Govern-
Fix this textment to this commitment. While the
Fix this textunions are not satisfied, they have
Fix this textachieved significant improvements
Fix this textto the Government’s original pack-
Fix this textage.
Fix this textTeachers have conducted a “grass
Fix this textroots” campaign and it has made
Fix this textthe politicians aware of the depth of
Fix this textNSW Premier Bob Carr has been
Fix this textwarned that teachers and other work-
Fix this texters will not forget what he and his
Fix this textgovernment have done to workers
Fix this textcompensation entitlements.
Fix this textThe Workers Compensation Fur-
Fix this textther Amendment Bill 2001 has passed
Fix this textin both houses of the NSW Parlia-
Fix this textment with the support of the Liberal
Fix this textOpposition.
Fix this textFederation will call on the NSW
Fix this textLabor Council to convene meetings
Fix this textof affiliated unions to plan appropri-
Fix this textate action should any worker be seri-
Fix this textously disadvantaged and members
Fix this textare advised to be prepared to take
Fix this textfurther industrial action to defend
Fix this texttheir rights.
Fix this textThe NSW Labor Council will seek
Fix this textfrom the Industrial Relations Com-
Fix this textmission a special test case to increase
Fix this textthe maximum payments for workers
Fix this textcompensation from the current level
Fix this textof $250,000 to $500,000.
Fix this textMembers are advised that at every
Fix this textavailable opportunity, they should
Fix this textremind State politicians that come
Fix this textthe next election they will remember
Fix this textwhat the politicians have done. Say
Fix this textto them, “I work and I vote.”
Fix this textJust over a year ago, the Can-
Fix this textLabor Government launched a
Fix this textvicious attack on workers con-
Fix this textunion anger at their assault on their
Fix this textrights. With your support, unions
Fix this texthave:
Fix this text□ increased the maximum level of
Fix this textlump sum compensation payments
Fix this textfrom $175,000 to $250,000
Fix this text□ reduced the threshold to sue a
Fix this textnegligent employer from 25 per cent
Fix this textto 15 percent
Fix this text□ ensured that you will have legal
Fix this textrepresentation and right of appeal if
Fix this textyou have a workplace accident
Fix this text□ made the medical guidelines
Fix this textagainst which your injury will be
Fix this textassessed fairer and
Fix this text□ repealed laws to allow the gov-
Fix this texternment to privatise Work Cover.
Fix this textThe Bill, as passed through State
Fix this textParliament, is unacceptable and it
Fix this textdoes not have the unions’ endorse-
Fix this textment as it still has serious flaws, but
Fix this textit is much better than it would have
Fix this textbeen in the absence of an active union
Fix this textmembership.
Fix this textNow that the two major parties in
Fix this textthe NSW Parliament have united in
Fix this textthis matter, the Bill has passed, but
Fix this textFederation and other NSW unions
Fix this textwill not give up on your rights, should
Fix this textyou be injured at work.
Fix this textLabor Council ad page 3
Fix this textNew ministers for education
Fix this textby Dennis Long
Fix this textThe Teachers Federation has wel-
Fix this textcomed the appointment of Glades-
Fix this textville MP John Watkins as the new
Fix this textEducation and Training Minister in
Fix this textBob Carr’s NSW Government.
Fix this textHis appointment follows months
Fix this textof speculation about the future of
Fix this textthe former minister, John Aquilina,
Fix this textwho was shifted to the Fair Trad-
Fix this texting and Land and Water Conserva-
Fix this texttion portfolios (see “The President
Fix this textWrites”, page 8).
Fix this textThe new minister was sworn in
Fix this texton November 21 and met with the
Fix this textunion’s Senior Officers on Novem-
Fix this textber 23 and November 30 with a
Fix this textthird meeting scheduled for this
Fix this textweek. A new staffing agreement
Fix this textwas discussed. The scheduled meet-
Fix this texting is to consider the Federation
Fix this textsubmission on the forthcoming State
Fix this textBudget (see story page 2).
Fix this textThe new minister has promised
Fix this textregular monthly meetings.
Fix this textFederation President Sue Simp-
Fix this textson wished him well and noted that
Fix this textFederation had been able “to work
Fix this textwell with him on the education of
Fix this textprisoners in his previous role as
Fix this textMinister for Corrective Services”.
Fix this textHowever, Federation also identi-
Fix this textfied challenges for the new min-
Fix this textister, including school closures,
Fix this textteacher shortages, class sizes, restor-
Fix this texting public education as the “first
Fix this textchoice for more parents” and the
Fix this text“legacy of hostility toward the Carr
Fix this textGovernment” from the 1999 salaries
Fix this textdispute.
Fix this textMs Simpson welcomed Minister
Fix this textWatkin’s reported comments that
Fix this texthe was committed to working to
Fix this textimprove teacher morale.
Fix this textPremier Carr is expected to main-
Fix this texttain a heavy watch over the edu-
Fix this textcation portfolio and it remains to
Fix this textbe seen if John Watkins’ role is to
Fix this textherald a new era of co-operation
Fix this textbetween teachers and the State Gov-
Fix this texternment or to put a pleasant face
Fix this texton ugly policies.
Fix this textOn his appointment, he indicated
Fix this textChanging of the guardians: Brendan Nelson, Jenny Macklin
Fix this textand John Watkins take on new roles.
Fix this textclearly that the government’s con-
Fix this texttroversial school closure plans for
Fix this textinner Sydney would go ahead.
Fix this textMr Watkins taught at St Joseph’s
Fix this textand sends his children to Catholic
Fix this textschools.
Fix this textDuring the 1996 salaries dispute,
Fix this texthe broke Government ranks by pen-
Fix this textning a letter of support for Fed-
Fix this texteration’s position. His letter was a
Fix this textsignificant development in breaking
Fix this texta badly deadlocked confrontation.
Fix this textIn the federal sphere, former
Fix this textAustralian Medical Association
Fix this textpresident and Liberal moderate,
Fix this textDr Brendan Nelson, has replaced
Fix this texthardliner Dr David Kemp as the
Fix this texteducation minister. Dr Nelson goes
Fix this textinto Cabinet while Dr Kemp moves
Fix this textto the environment portfolio.
Fix this textIn an interesting development,
Fix this textDr Nelson will be shadowed by new
Fix this textALP deputy leader Jenny Mack-
Fix this textlin.
Fix this textIn choosing the education port-
Fix this textfolio, Ms Macklin has broken with
Fix this textthe recent tradition of linking leader-
Fix this textship with the Treasury role. Paul
Fix this textKeating, Gareth Evans and Simon
Fix this textCrean all combined the number two
Fix this textspot with the role of high-powered
Fix this texteconomic spokesperson.
Fix this textDennis Long
Fix this textis the Editor.
Fix this textEnd of an era
Fix this textby Dennis Long
Fix this textJohn Hennessy has resigned after
Fix this text11 years as General Secretary of
Fix this textthe Teachers Federation.
Fix this textThe election to fill the casual
Fix this textvacancy will be held at February
Fix this textCouncil (see notice page 11) with
Fix this textthe new General Secretary taking
Fix this textover shortly thereafter.
Fix this textJohn was the ninth General Sec-
Fix this textretary, serving nearly as long as
Fix this textIvor Lancaster (1963-1975) but well
Fix this textshort of the first two, W J Hendry
Fix this text(1919-1944) and H S Norington
Fix this text(1944-1962).
Fix this textJohn began teaching in the Riv-
Fix this texterina in 1962 and moved to Tweed
Fix this textHeads in 1966. In 1972, he was
Fix this textelected as one of first two Country
Fix this textResident Organiser and provided
Fix this textservice to members on the North
Fix this textCoast.
Fix this textHe was elected Assistant General
Fix this textSecretary (Schools) at the triennial
Fix this textelection of Administrative Officers
Fix this textin 1988 when Bob Sharkey was
Fix this textelected General Secretary and won
Fix this textthe by-election for the General Sec-
Fix this textretary’s position in September 1990
Fix this textwhen Bob resigned.
Fix this textJohn worked closely with then
Fix this textPresident Phil Cross during the
Fix this textMetherell years and subsequently
Fix this textwith Denis Fitzgerald and Sue
Fix this textSimpson. He undertook a major
Fix this textoverhaul of the union’s financial
Fix this textoperations and oversaw the shift
Fix this textfrom the Sussex Street office to the
Fix this textpresent location in Surry Hills.
Fix this textJohn is undecided about his
Fix this textimmediate plans but may consider
Fix this textpositions related to his interest in
Fix this textsuperannuation after he has had a
Fix this textbreak.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680978701
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. (1919). Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Retrieved July 24, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680978701
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation and New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Sydney: The Federation, 1919. Web. 24 July 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680978701>
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. 1919, Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation The Federation, Sydney viewed 24 July 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680978701
{{Citation
| author1=N.S.W. Teachers' Federation.
| author2=New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation.
| title=Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation.
| year=1919
| section=volumes.
| issn=0013-1156
| issue=Vol. 82 No. 13 (10 Dec 2001)
| location=Sydney
| publisher=The Federation
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680978701
| id=nla.obj-680978701
| access-date=24 July 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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