As Tasmanian public schools commence Term 3 without enough teachers, the Premier’s decision to put Eric Abetz in charge of making $228 million worth of education cuts will ensure Tasmanian children fall further behind.

A survey from the Australian Education Union shows more than six in ten responding Tasmanian public school principals were missing at least one teacher at the start of the term.  

As a former teacher, I know that without enough relief teachers to bridge the gap, schools are left to pull their principals, senior staff, and student teachers working under Limited Authority to Teach into classrooms to ensure learning can continue.  

As it stands, Tasmania consistently produces the worst education outcomes of any state in the country, despite the outstanding efforts of teachers and school support staff.  

Education Minister, Jo Palmer has failed to explain how our schools, teachers, students, and families won’t be left worse off as $192 million of the $228 million cuts to DECYP will come from ‘In School Education’ alone. That’s because she can’t.  

Every dollar Eric Abetz cuts from education will result in more students being taught in classrooms without proper support, with outdated resources, by over-stretched educators. 

After 13 years of Liberal waste, Premier Rockliff has put Eric Abetz in charge of cutting jobs and services to clean up the mess, and Tasmanian students will pay the pric