Bob Katter slams ‘unfair’ student debt snub for teachers in Mount Isa, Cloncurry

Teachers in Mount Isa and Cloncurry are missing out on vital student debt relief because the government won’t classify the towns as ‘very remote’, according to maverick MP Bob Katter.

Bob Katter is calling for urgent action to fix student debt relief for teachers in Mount Isa and Cloncurry. Picture: Evan Morgan

Teachers in Mount Isa and Cloncurry are missing out on vital student debt relief because the government won’t classify the towns as ‘very remote’, according to outspoken MP Bob Katter.

The Member for Kennedy is calling on the Education Minister to review the classification systems for the federally funded Reduction of Higher Education Loan Program (HELP).

He said right now, in Mount Isa and Cloncurry, teachers aren’t receiving the same benefits as their healthcare colleagues due to different government classification systems.

The education sector follows the ABS Remoteness Structure, which labels Mount Isa and Cloncurry as ‘remote’.

Meanwhile, the health sector follows the Modified Monash Model, which classifies the same towns as ‘very remote’.

The difference in classification is significant because only teachers working in ‘very remote’ areas qualify for major student debt relief through HELP, while those in ‘remote’ areas do not.

“We have written to the Minister for Education requesting an urgent review of the location classification systems in use and how we can streamline results and definitions across Australia,” Mr Katter said.

Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) vice president Leah Olsson said the union would support any initiative that helps attract and retain teachers in rural and remote areas.

“The QTU has fought for and won a series of incentives and assistance packages to ensure teachers moving to these communities feel valued, supported, and respected,” she said.

Queensland Teachers Union vice president Leah Olsson. Photo: Supplied/QTU website

“Teachers make a personal sacrifice to leave home and work in rural and remote communities delivering world-class education. It’s essential this is recognised and valued by state and federal governments.”

Mr Katter said the current system makes it harder to recruit and retain qualified teachers in north west Queensland and pointed out the unfair gap between education and healthcare incentives.

“Despite being a wonderful place to live and raise a family, we have difficulty recruiting qualified and experienced teachers to the north west, and when they see their fellow public servants who work in health being given extra benefits to work in areas away from the coast, well it’s not fair is it?” he said.

“I may be biased when it comes to how good it is living in north Queensland, but I am not blind to the challenges people in remote areas contend with; issues our coastal cousins could not even comprehend.”

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare indicated the government was opening to making further changes.

“We need more teachers in North West Queensland and across regional and rural Australia,” Mr Clare said.

“The Government has made some changes to cut the HECS debt of teachers in very remote areas.

“I would be happy to sit down with Bob Katter to discuss this issue further.”

Originally published as Bob Katter slams ‘unfair’ student debt snub for teachers in Mount Isa, Cloncurry