Parents on School Councils now risk their house
Feb 13, 2012
David Pisoni MP
Shadow Minister for Education
Shadow Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Development
Parents on School Councils now risk their house
With primary and secondary schools starting their AGM period this week, parents on Governing Councils are at risk of losing their homes under the Occupational Health and Safety laws being introduced to State Parliament by the Weatherill Labor Government.
Shadow Education Minister David Pisoni said Education Department guidelines clearly stated that Governing Councils have the ultimate legal and financial responsibility for the employment of staff in school canteens and out of school hours care.
“Even when the OSHC is operated by the Department, school Governing Councils have the legal liability for the service according to DECD guidelines,” Mr Pisoni said.
“It is already difficult for principals to encourage parents to participate on school councils with many AGMs not attracting enough parents to fill the vacant positions.
“Labor’s legislation is clear that volunteers will not be exempt from the raft of new penalties attached to the new OH&S laws, making the vital role that School Councils play in keeping parents connected with their children’s education risky.
“With up to 8000 staff employed by School Councils across the state, these new laws will see mums and dads facing fines of up to $600,000 or even criminal charges leading to imprisonment for employee actions over which they actually have no control.
“I call on Minister Portolesi to leave her union ideology behind, put education first and tell Premier Weatherill that this situation is unjust and must be changed."