State Council report: 30 August 2025

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 7, 3 October 2025, page no 4.

The main topic of discussion was the recent strike action, with Council congratulating all QTU members who were involved on 6 August and noting the widespread community support for our campaign. 

Delegates heard a report back from the QTU industrial advocates attending the conciliation negotiations in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC). Council noted the commission’s view that the conciliation has been proceeding productively and in good faith. 

After a 2.5-hour debate, delegates determined to pause any consideration of further industrial action for a four-week period, to allow for the conciliation process to continue. It will continue to be conducted on a confidential basis. 

Following conciliation in the QIRC, QTU Executive will consider a report on the progress of the conciliation at its meeting on 7 October. Members will be updated on a weekly basis. 

Regional rallies, social media posts and outside-the-school-gate activities will continue in support of the campaign. Members are encouraged to wear maroon on Mondays. 

Other news
Council considered the rules review recommendations for modernising and updating the QTU Constitution and Rules. New rules were adopted which will deal with members who make false, frivolous, unreasonable, vexatious, or malicious accusations against the Union or engage in conduct intended to mislead other members of the Union. 

• Council received the April, May, and June financial statements, with membership dues exceeding expected income. The Union had grown to more than 50,690 members as of 1 August — the largest number ever. Concerted efforts will be made to retain those new members going forward. 
• QTU Trustees are undertaking an investment and property review. The Union’s Logan/Redlands and Met West Logan Organisers and staff will be based at the new Eight Mile Plains office from Term 4. The Cairns office is being modified to include a new training space. An audit of the Milton building has occurred and the building will be externally repainted. 
• Pat Miller, secretary of the Barron (subsequently Cairns North) Branch for more than ten years, was awarded Life Membership of the QTU after his nomination by the Far North Queensland Area Council.
• The QTU is continuing to experience growth in the number of members who identify as First Nations and who feel culturally safe within the Union. There are currently no vacancies on the Gandu Jarjum Committee, and the rule changes carried by Council delegates will see First Nations people elected as Area Council and TAFE Council delegates, where one nominates. 
• The TAFE and CQU certified agreements will expire next year, and the QTU has begun to consult TAFE members to develop logs of claim. The QTU has raised concerns regarding the deliberate misalignment and misinterpretation of TAFE conditions. TAFE challenged the five weeks of non-attendance time (NAT) leave, and the QTU took the matter to the QIRC, seeking an interpretation. The commission gave an interpretation, but the QTU ran an appeal and TAFE conceded. This is a significant win for the QTU. 
• The For Every Child website will be reshaped once the bilateral agreements are launched. 
• The State of Our Schools survey is currently underway, and members are encouraged to participate in it. 
• Council endorsed the National March for Palestine on 12 October and encouraged members to attend, while condemning the conduct of the March for Australia on 31 August as it is in opposition to the QTU’s values.
• Class Sizes Policy Booklet D was adopted, finalising the set of QTU policies that have been adopted for 2025-2027. All of these policies are now available on the QTU website here.
   

Leah Mertens
Deputy General Secretary (Member Services)
 

Arthur Hamilton Award

Time is running out to nominate for the AEU’s Arthur Hamilton Award for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.

The award will be presented to an educator or group of educators who demonstrate a commitment to the provision of high-quality education to Aboriginal students and Torres Strait Islander students in one or more of the following ways:

• Implementing a whole school/TAFE institute approach to Aboriginal education and Torres Strait Islander education
• Improving outcomes for Aboriginal students and Torres Strait Islander students
• Improving the engagement of Aboriginal parents and Torres Strait Islander parents, and members of their broader communities in school decision-making processes
• Developing and implementing an innovative product or program relevant to Aboriginal education and Torres Strait Islander education.
   

Nominations close on Friday 17 October. For more details and to nominate click here.