The Australian Education Union said the Federal Government’s decision to move away from its bonus pay proposal was a positive sign it was prepared to listen to the profession.

“The bonus scheme ran counter to co-operative efforts to put in place the National Professional Standards for Teachers that can underpin better career and salary structures,” AEU Federal President Angelo Gavrielatos said.

“While this payment remains a one off reward, it will provide an incentive for teachers to demonstrate the teaching knowledge, skills and practice required to be accredited as Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers.

“The payments should be higher and we will be pursuing this with the Government. They fall short of the Labor Party's commitment before they were elected in 2007 to an additional $10,000 a year for teachers judged to be highly accomplished.”

Mr Gavrielatos said the bonus pay scheme was never the right policy approach.

“Bonus schemes do not meet the challenge we have in Australia which is to put in place career and salary structures that will ensure we can attract the best people into teaching and keep them in the classroom,” he said.

“As the Productivity Commission reported, teachers pay rates have not kept pace with many other professions and since 1995 there has been no increase in the average real salaries of Australia’s most experienced teachers.

“Our teachers reach the top of the existing state and territory government pay scales after ten years, on average, and if they stay in the classroom they remain on the same salary for the next 25 years or more.

“The AEU will continue to campaign for better professional career and salary structures for all teachers.

“In addition to a competitive professional salary for all teachers, the AEU will continue to pursue further recognition and ongoing reward for those who demonstrate the highest quality teaching, knowledge, skills and practice.

“That is why we support the new National Professional Standards for Teachers and have been actively involved in their development and implementation."

“We also call on the Coalition to abandon the bonus pay scheme they promised at the last election. Their unworkable plan involves setting up a committee to try and decide which teachers deserve a bonus based on submissions from thousands of schools.”