Greens candidate threatened with sack
By Kest Courtice
HOBART — Jeff Briscoe, the Greens candidate in upcoming Tasmanian Legislative Council elections, has been threatened with dismissal from his job as a teacher over statements he made against the minister for education's recent decision to ban information on sexuality from secondary colleges.
Briscoe's job was in question because of government rules which state that employees may not talk about information that they could get only through their job.
The question arose when an article appeared in the Hobart Mercury on April 29 describing him as a "former teacher". On May 3, however, the minister, Bruce Davis, said that Briscoe had permission to speak on the matter, and that he would not be prosecuted.
Briscoe told Green Left that the decision was "precedent setting" and points to further rights public servants could win. He had been told by his union that he was "skating on thin ice" and legal advice was that he had broken the law.
Briscoe said that "people power" could have influenced Davis' decision. College students, already angry at the information ban, had been talking of a student strike if Briscoe was dismissed.
Briscoe's campaign for the Legislative Council follows his recent election to the Hobart City Council. His campaign centres around four issues: a cable-car-free Mount Wellington; a "vigorous public service"; redevelopment of the community and community spirit; respect for human rights.
He said that attacks such as the ban on sexuality information, or the federal government's plan to force youth into training schemes on low pay, are part of a broader attack on the whole community.
Briscoe is confident of getting into the Legislative Council. In the recent local council election, he was the only new member elected. He sees his role in the upper house as being the "start of a change".
Initially he hopes to use the position to point out the victims of the system, people as well as the environment.
The state Legislative Council suffers from a huge gerrymander. Briscoe would like to see the electorates abolished and a single statewide electorate set up.
To get involved in the campaign, contact Jeff on 341 774 (home) or the Greens office on 346 200. Campaign meetings are held every Tuesday at 12:30pm at the office, corner of Barrack and Goulburn streets, West Hobart.