QTU members' newsflashNo.39-20, 3 September 2020 | DOWNLOAD PDF

NAPLAN ban ballot

The Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) State Council meeting held in Brisbane on Saturday 22 August resolved to conduct a ballot of members on banning all preparation and participation in NAPLAN in all its forms, if the tristate review into NAPLAN failed to produce a satisfactory outcome. The review is being considered by the Education Council on Friday 4 September, but neither the continuation of NAPLAN or its replacement with Australian National Standardised Assessment (ANSA) is satisfactory. Members received an overview of the Union’s significant concerns over the flaws in the review process and proposed recommendation in Newsflash 38-20 earlier this week.

Member ballot briefings

It is unlikely that Friday will see the Ministerial Council reach a consensus position regarding the acceptance of the review outcomes, which would result in NAPLAN in its current form remaining in place for 2021 and beyond. In preparation for this outcome, we are planning three member ballot briefings via Zoom, to be held next week as follows:

Member ballot briefing 1 – Tuesday 8 September at 4:30pm

Member ballot briefing 2 – Wednesday 9 September at 4:30pm

Member ballot briefing 3 – Thursday 10 September at 4:30pm.

If you wish to take part, it is essential that you RSVP to this link. If more members wish to participate than can be accommodated, the QTU will schedule a parallel briefing at the same time.

These meetings will also be supplemented with a video presentation that will be available to members only on our website.

Ballot process

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, we will again not be conducting workplace meetings. Instead, this ballot will be conducted as an individual electronic ballot. All financial members will receive an email with instructions on how to login and vote. Members will need to know their membership number and password for MyQTU to cast a vote.

The ballot will open on Friday 11 September and close on Thursday 17 September, to ensure that the ballot is completed before the end of Term 3. Members will be informed of the results via Newsflash on the final day of term, 18 September.

New QTU presidential team elected

Nominations for election as President, Vice-President and Honorary Vice-President of the QTU, which were called by the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ), closed on 31 August. The election is for a three-year term commencing on the first day of school in 2021.

At the close of nominations, there was only one nomination for each position. The ECQ has declared the following members elected:

• President – Cresta Richardson (currently QTU Vice-President)
• Vice-President – Leah Olsson (a teacher at Cairns West SS and a current member of the QTU Executive)
• Honorary Vice-President – Jenny Swadling (currently QTU Honorary Vice-President and Principal of Charleville SDE).
   

Congratulations to Cresta, Leah and Jenny on their election/re-election.

Current QTU President Kevin Bates was not eligible to stand, as QTU rules include a limit on the number of terms a presidential officer can serve. Kevin’s service and contribution as President, QTU Organiser and Industrial Advocate, as well as a member and activist, will be celebrated before the conclusion of his term of office.

 Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064