Radio hosts Will Goodings and David Penberthy clash with union boss Lara Golding over social media attack on Nicola Spurrier
Union boss Lara Golding had a heated radio clash with FIVEaa hosts Will Goodings and David Penberthy this morning as she admitted a Facebook attack on SA’s chief public health officer was a mistake. HEAR THE AUDIO
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Under-fire union boss Lara Golding had a heated radio clash with FIVEaa hosts Will Goodings and David Penberthy this morning as the union leader admitted a Facebook attack on SA’s chief public health officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, was a mistake.
The union was last night accused of a “grubby” attack on Professor Spurrier after it posted a sledge on Facebook, that was later tweeted last night, taking aim at Professor Spurrier’s message to parents that schools were safe to reopen on Monday.
“It may look good on paper, but how long will it last when school’s back? Keep them safe,” read the post, which included Professor Spurrier’s open letter emblazoned in red writing with the words ‘seriously, Spurrier?’.
Both sides of politics condemned the post last night, with Premier Steven Marshall calling it a “grubby attack”.
This morning, Ms Golding appeared on several radio stations to explain the post. But her appearance on FIVEaa soon became heated.
Questioned by Penberthy whether teachers were a “protected species’’ and told to get “control” of her union, he then asked the AEU SA branch president why educators thought they were more important that nurses, doctors and supermarket workers.
He also questioned her credentials to have an opinion as Ms Golding studied maths and physics and not biology, medicine or epidemiology.
“We are asking to put the same protections in place in schools that are in place in other parts of society,’’ Ms Golding said.
However, Ms Golding again said she would be apologising to Professor Spurrier for the Facebook attack.
“I understand she is doing an excellent job and I appreciate the work she is doing,’’ she said.
