By: Mark Parton
The Canberra Liberals will jointly move a censure motion with the ACT Greens against ACT Labor Minister Yvette Berry, citing a sustained record of failure in the vital education and housing portfolios.
For years, teachers, learning support assistants, principals, parents and students have warned that ACT public schools were under increasing pressure. Minister Berry repeatedly insisted the system was performing strongly. The independent ACT Public School System Resourcing Review then exposed the deep and systemic failures across the education system.
The review found schools plagued by confusion, inconsistency and poor communication, growing administrative burdens pulling teachers out of classrooms, a central office growing faster than schools, widening inequality between schools, rising occupational safety concerns, and inadequate support for students with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
At the same time, the Education Directorate’s failure to meaningfully engage with educators’ concerns has driven public school workers to take strike action for the first time in 14 years.
The record in housing is equally concerning. Ombudsman reports, Auditor-General investigations, a Supreme Court finding that tenants’ human rights were breached, and evidence regarding failures in specialist disability accommodation all point to serious and sustained mismanagement within Housing ACT under Labor’s watch.
Ministerial accountability is a cornerstone of responsible government. After years of warnings, reviews, audits and court findings, the evidence is clear: Canberrans deserve better, and Minister Berry must be held accountable.