The leader of the NSW Left discovers conservatism

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Teachers have ridiculed the announcement by the Premier, Morris Iemma, that it will be compulsory for all schools to play the national anthem at assemblies, as a response to the Cronulla riots. Announcing the creation of "Australian values" units in public primary schools, Mr Iemma vaunted the teaching of "respect" and "responsibility" to the state's youth. But he admitted there was no way of forcing his anthem plan on independent schools.

The president of the NSW Teachers Federation, Maree O'Halloran, described the anthem idea as a reannouncement and window-dressing. Most schools already sang the anthem anyway, she said. The executive director of the Association of Independent Schools, Geoff Newcombe, said: "Many of the independent schools actually do that [sing the anthem] so it isn't a massive change."

Mr Iemma made no apology for his repeated use of the term grubs to describe the gang filmed on CCTV bashing a man in a revenge attack after the riots. "They demonstrated not just criminality . but that underlying lack of respect [for an] innocent, law-abiding citizen [who] should not be subjected to that cowardly thuggish attack by that bunch of grubs."....

Mr Iemma told a gathering at Government House that he wanted "every day to be Australia Day" and he wanted Australian values, such as notions of "decency" and a "fair go" to be taught in the home and at school. He said the five Rs - "reading, writing, arithmetic, respect and responsibility" - should be school policy. Mr Iemma warned anyone out to cause trouble at the beaches on Australia Day to watch out. "We're not backing away - you want to cause trouble on Australia Day, there will be police to meet you, arrest you and deal with you before the courts," he said.

Mr Iemma promised further announcements on affordable housing and community services. This was all part of a plan to target social problems behind gang crime, he said. Asked if they knew the lyrics of Advance Australia Fair, the Premier and the Education Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, began singing the second verse.

"From the beginning of this school year, all government and non-government schools will be expected to play Advance Australia Fair at their regular assemblies,' Mr Iemma said. "Most schools already do this as part of their everyday school life." The policy would not have to be enforced as private schools had agreed to the plan, he said. "Educational policies" to deal with the riots included creating "Australian values" units in public primary schools, he said.

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