Peter Dutton says unions dominating Annastacia Palaszczuk’s thinking on schools

Annastacia Palaszczuk has fired back at Peter Dutton over his ongoing criticism of the State Government’s handing of schools during the coronavirus crisis.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has hit back at Peter Dutton after claims she’s been “dictated to” by union bosses when it comes to schools during the coronavirus crisis.

“Peter Dutton is not getting the health advice I’m getting so I will listen to the experts and I will respond to the experts,” she said.

“And we will then convert that expert advice with the stakeholders.”

“There’s a lot of stakeholders here. You’ve got your teachers, there the parents, there’s the students, there’s the education system, the private school system too, we are going to be taking to everyone and we’ve for until the 15th of May to make that decision.”

The Home Affairs Minister told Sky News there was “no reason” why children should not be back at school except that unions were “able to pull the strings of the State Government”.

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Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has attacked Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk over her handling of schools during the COVID-19 crisis. Picture Gary Ramage

“We know that the CFMEU, the teachers union and other unions have a massive say here in Queensland and at the moment that say is dominating the Premier’s thinking when she should be thinking about the kids and parents,” he said.

“It’s very hard for a lot of parents to homeschool for a variety of reasons particularly if they’re working from home trying to bring some money into the family at a very difficult stage for millions of Australians.”

He called on Ms Palaszczuk to follow the lead of the Northern Territory’s Labor Government, which he said had been “able to stare down the teachers union” and ensure children returned to school.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been heavily criticised for failing to “stare down the unions”. Picture: Dan Peled

“In Queensland we need to follow, I believe, the very responsible path of the Northern Territory, and Queensland has the ability to do that but not if Premier Palaszczuk is going to be dictated to by the union bosses in backroom deals,” he said.

“I want her to put the kids first, not the union bosses.”

Ms Palaszczuk is scheduled to hold a media conference this morning.