Busselton rallies for education staff

Busselton’s Mitchell Park came alive with anti-government chants today as teachers, support staff and parents rallied against public education cuts.

Education protestors rally in Bunbury

The strike was part of a Statewide action involving thousands of people and resulted in the closure of at least one Busselton school.

State School Teachers Union of WA Busselton representative Geoff Holt said the Barnett Government had cut $180 million from public schools this financial year or the equivalent of 600 full-time teachers.

He said this was happening at the same time schools in other states were receiving millions through the Gonski school funding reforms.

Mr Holt warned there could be worse to come.

“In May the Government is likely to announce more cuts. We know this is coming and we’re trying to stop it but we’re (also) trying to make the public aware,” he said.

“We’re spending hundreds of millions of dollar on pet projects in Perth such as the stadium and hundreds of millions of dollars on Elizabeth Quay and at the same time we’re cutting down on our future through the kids sitting in front of me.”

Parent Wanjiku Moite said Dunsborough Primary School was increasingly reliant on demountable classrooms and funds from the P&C to purchase school books.

She urged other parents to make their voice heard on the issue.

“I would encourage everyone here to sign the petitions and come out and also write a letter. Write to them and tell them what you’re seeing at your school,” she said.

Education Minister Peter Collier has labelled the strike “unlawful action” and said it was political opportunism ahead of the Senate election this week.