Media Release
14 October 2009
Grylls and Nationals abandon regional school
support workers
National Party leader Brendon Grylls today refused to support a fair wages deal for
thousands of school support workers working in regional areas of Western Australia.
Responding to a question in Parliament today from Albany MLA Peter Watson, Mr
Grylls backed Treasurer Troy Buswell’s refusal to consider a wage increase of more
than 44 cents an hour for education assistants, school cleaners and gardeners. The
refusal came despite the Liberal-National Government recently awarding teachers and
police officers much bigger wage increases.
LHMU Secretary Dave Kelly said regional school support workers would feel
abandoned by Mr Grylls and the Nationals.
“Brendon Grylls and the Nationals have a responsibility to use their balance-of-power
position in State Parliament to stand up for regional workers,” said Mr Kelly.
“We have recently seen that Mr Grylls and the Nationals are prepared to use their
balance-of-power position in the Parliament to block Mr Barnett extending shopping
hours in Perth. Unfortunately, Mr Grylls appears unwilling to use his influence to stand
up for issues that really matter to regional people, such as the wages and conditions of
people who work in regional schools.
“I call on school support workers in regional areas and all people who value the quality
of education in regional areas to contact Mr Grylls and the Nationals and urge them to
support a fair wages deal for school support workers so that education standards can
be maintained for children living in regional WA.”
Mr Kelly said that school support workers needed a fair deal.
“School support workers are some of the State Government’s lowest paid employees,
earning roughly $35,000 a year.
“Mr Buswell is offering school support workers a pay rise of only 44 cents an hour,
which is completely unfair when you consider he has put up average household bills by
more than $1,000 over the last year. Power bills have gone up more than 25 per cent,
gas by 23 per cent and water by 10 per cent.
Media Release
“With WA entering a new boom and the State Government about to be rolling in cash
from major resource projects like the Gorgon gas project, Mr Buswell can afford to offer
school support workers a much fairer deal.
“If Mr Buswell refuses to offer school support workers a fair wages deal, then Mr Grylls
should show the same strength of character he has shown in standing up to the Liberals
on retail trading hours and demand a fair deal for school support workers working in
regional WA.”
Contact: Daniel Smith 0405 463 702
61 Thomas Street, Subiaco WA 6008
Authorised by Dave Kelly
NEWS 
