Public schools across Tasmania will shut their doors next week, the state government has confirmed, as public sector unions roll out industrial action over pay and conditions.
The closures will hit different regions on different days, with schools closed until 11am before classes resume at 11:30am.
North-west schools will close on Tuesday, northern schools including Launceston on Wednesday and southern schools including Hobart on Thursday.
Families are being urged to make alternative arrangements for the morning, with students asked not to arrive before 11am.
Regular school buses will operate as normal, but support school buses will not run in the morning.
The strikes follow the government’s offer of a 3% pay rise – rejected by teachers, health unions and Tasmania Police officers.
“Unfortunately my hand has been completely forced,” Education Minister Jo Palmer said.
“We don’t know which teachers will or won’t be participating in this industrial action and therefore to ensure the safety and the well-being of our children I’ve had no option other than to say the schools will be closed.”
She said the action will be “disruptive and unnecessary” and cause headaches for thousands of students, working families and local businesses.
Palmer said schools will contact families directly about their specific arrangements.
“We are at the [negotiating] table and all I can do is call on the unions to please stop this action. I’m asking them to do that today so that we can keep our schools open next week,” she said.
Australian Education Union Tasmania state manager Brian Wightman said the state government had chosen politics over students.
He said educators are fighting for safer schools and more teaching and learning resources to benefit students.
“The decision to close schools lies with the Rockliff government and was entirely avoidable,” he said.
“Many educators are themselves parents and sympathise with the situation the government has put us all in.”
Tasmania has 192 public schools, including three support schools, eight colleges for Years 11 and 12 and the Tasmanian eSchool – together serving almost 60,000 children and young people.
