The Western Australian Liberal state government has increased rents for public school teachers and TAFE staff living in government housing (GROH) in towns across WA.

Regional education staff have been notified of rent increases of up to 15 per cent, or $60 per fortnight, even though the housing market is actually going down.

Many of the houses provided by the state government are already in a state of disrepair and in significant need of maintenance. 

This massive increase in the cost of living for teachers in regional WA is a real threat to the quality of education in regional public schools.

It will have a huge impact on the ability to attract and retain quality teachers and lecturers to country schools and TAFE. 

We know that the state government has mismanaged the economy and created financial problems for itself, but penalising regional teachers and TAFE staff is not the way to fix it. 

If Education Minister Peter Collier and Housing Minister Brendon Grylls care about the quality of education in regional WA, they will provide quality, affordable housing for our education professionals.

We call on the Hon. Peter Collier and Hon. Brendon Grylls to reverse rent increases for education staff living in government housing (GROH) in regional towns.