AEU NT backs concerns for teacher safety, ALC council ‘disappointed’ at no consultation

An NT land council has refuted reports educators in Groote Eylandt are living in fear, with the union which made the statement maintaining it was necessary for action to be taken.

• ‘SIGNIFICANT PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM’: Union says teachers living in fear, terrorised with knives, machetes

THE Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC) has refuted reports educators in Umbakumba, Groote Eylandt are living in fear, with the union which made the statements maintaining it was necessary.

In a letter to the Australian Education Union NT (AEU NT), ALC chief executive Mark Hewitt said the organisation was “extremely disappointed” with the union taking its concerns public without speaking with the land council first. “You have disseminated a story which is filled with fear, provocation and exaggeration for the purpose of gaining popular headlines in the pursuit of your own interests,” Mr Hewitt wrote.

On Monday the AEU NT published a press release calling for the immediate relocation of educators in Umbakumba, stating staff were victims of night-time break-ins by intruders wielding machetes and axes.

Branch president Jarvis Ryan said school property had been damaged and large weapons left behind, with the threat to employee safety in their homes and workplace causing “significant psychological harm”.

However Mr Hewitt said the alleged break-ins were isolated incidents, occurring to the principal and another teacher. He said the remaining teachers had not raised concerns.

“Terms such as ‘Children wielding machetes’, ‘dysfunctional’ and ‘escalating violence’ are purely inflammatory and unhelpful,” he said.

“You have failed to have any regard to the impact that this story may have upon Umbakumba and the wider Groote Eylandt community.”

MORE TOP NEWS

Primary school kids running amok around CBD businesses: Police

Iconic Territory resort to reopen in first milestone in multi-million dollar strategy

‘GET TESTED’: Backdated requirement for ACT arrivals as capital locked out

Mr Ryan said the purpose of the press release was to draw attention to the need for more urgency by the NT Education Department to address issues around staff safety in remote communities.

“The Department needs to respond more quickly in situations such as this,” he said.

“It is important to impress the urgency on the people in Darwin making those decisions. “This is also not just about education, it’s about housing, police, Territory Families. “We need a whole of government response to ensure workers are safe and we’re also addressing these issues that may be in communities.” Education Minister Lauren Moss told Mix 104.9 on Thursday said senior department representatives had gone to Umbakumba this week to find local solutions.