QTU Senior Officers met this morning following the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) issuing orders for QTU members to lift their moratorium on the administration of the NAPLAN tests on May 11, 12 and13. They are mapping a way forward in the campaign to improve the MySchool website.

At 1pm  today, QTU Senior Officers will take part in an Australia-wide teleconference with other state and territory state school teacher unions to review developments in this national campaign.

At 4:30pm today the QTU Executive will meet to discuss the QTU response to the Orders issued on Friday by the QIRC. A QTU Newsflash will be sent by email to all members who have provided their email address, and it will also be available on the QTU website.

A Principal Update will be sent tomorrow (May 5) and the QTU is working on other communication strategies.

The QTU had lengthy discussions with senior members of the Queensland Government in relation to the Sunday Mail report on May 2, which suggested that teachers would be fined in relation to NAPLAN.

The QTU has been given assurances that the government does not support the QIRC fining teachers for industrial action.

Following is a quote from Paul Lucas's media release from Saturday, May 1 

"The government is consistent on this, we do not see fines and penalties against teachers as a solution to this matter."

Our teaching colleagues around Australia are holding firm. We should continue with preparation for the tests in the hope that the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard will see reason and agree to a process, involving teacher unions, to improve the MySchool website.

John Battams             Steve Ryan              
General Secretary     President