Australia hit by teacher strikes

Teachers are complaining of a "looming crisis"

Thousands of teachers in Australia have gone on strike demanding better conditions and pay rises of up to 30%.

Schools in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia were hit and other protests were expected.

Several thousand teachers rallied outside the New South Wales state parliament in Sydney.

But the state's Education Minister, Andrew Refshauge, said a 6% offer was all the government could afford.

"The strike is going to have no consequence at all except it's going to disrupt thousands of families," he said.

Teachers unions said the pay rises were needed to help attract graduates into the profession and avert what one union leader called a "looming crisis".

"The issue of teacher shortage is a real issue in our schools across Australia, which principals are confronted with every day," according to Neil Free, chairman of the National Principals' Committee.

Jennifer Killen, a teacher in Sydney, said teachers felt "undervalued for the most important job".

"I know teachers who are leaving the profession because they can't afford to pay the mortgage and raise a family on this kind of pay," she said.

The highest pay for a classroom teacher in New South Wales is $59,000 [$38,000].