A political stoush has erupted after the New South Wales government and opposition accused each other of copying their respective education policy.
Yesterday, NSW Labor flagged that it would outline a plan to transfer 10,000 teachers from temporary to permanent positions in schools at its annual conference today.
And it was reported in the media on Saturday evening.
About 6am today, the state government also announced that it would move 10,000 temporary teachers into permanent, full-time roles from next year.
'Copying our homework'
Both sides have accused the other of copying their idea.
"For Labor to announce something very similar to what we've already done … I think it's a bit of a case of them copying our homework," Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said.
Shadow Education Minister Prue Car said: "The Liberals and Nationals have clearly copied Labor's approach to this massive issue in NSW."
Ms Mitchell insisted the government's scheme was different from Labor's, as it will eventually extend to temporary learning support workers as well.
"The department has identified almost 10,000 teaching positions that are in schools … that we think we can look to convert to permanent roles," she said.
"On top of that, we also are starting to identify learning support officers."
But Labor said the government had taken too long to address the teacher shortage in NSW.
"They have done nothing over 12 years to address this problem," Ms Car said.
"When Labor announces this, the government comes out and announces the same. It's pretty poor."
Ms Mitchell said the government's scheme would help secure teachers in subjects and geographic areas in need.
"Because there is record funding going into public schools across the state, a lot of school principals are using that funding to create new positions, but often they're putting them in as a temporary role as they look at the funding and make sure that that continues to flow," she said.
"We think there's a real possibility now to make sure that those roles are converted to permanent roles."
Temporary teachers will receive permanent job offers through the state government's scheme from early 2023.
The implementation of Labor's plan is contingent on the party winning the upcoming state election in March.
Today's conference will mark the finalisation of NSW Labor's platform for the election campaign.
NSW Teachers Federation spokesman Angelo Gavrielatos said the teachers shortage crisis impacted students every day.
He said the current government had years to address the problem.
"Can you trust the government that is responsible for bringing us this crisis over the last 10 years? Thus far, this government has been unwilling to tackle the crisis," Mr Gavrielatos said.
