Chief Minister Andrew Barr has strongly rejected the opposition's claims that the teachers union has dictated the government's position on schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, declaring the accusation a "crazy conspiracy theory".
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The government and opposition traded barbs on Thursday morning over the territory's motivations for shutting schools and moving all students to remote learning at the start of Term 2.
It marked the first time the Liberals have genuinely criticised an aspect of the government's response to the pandemic.
Opposition leader Alistair Coe said there was a "growing suspicion" that the powerful Australian Education Union had shaped the government's decision to shift the public school system online.
Mr Coe again called for the government to release an agreement struck between the education directorate and the union late last month, which provided that no public school teacher could be compelled to work in the classroom.
The union's boss has made clear that teachers would have to agree to rescind the agreement before they returned en-masse to face-to-face learning.
Mr Coe said his problem was not with the union, which was entitled to advocate for the interests of its members, but rather the lack of transparency from the government.
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"Unfortunately it seems that politics is determining the outcome here, not medical advice," Mr Coe said.
Mr Barr rubbished Mr Coe's claim as a "crazy conspiracy theory".
"I think the leader of the opposition has either taken off his tin-foil hat or put it back on - I'm not sure which," he said.
"I think the mad conspiracy theories that he comes up with from time-to-time tend to have an element of anti-union hysteria. They are unfounded and are seeking to whip up some partisan political story."
Mr Barr said the government, as the teachers' employer, had an obligation to protect their safety in the workplace.
In a statement to The Canberra Times, Mr Fowler said the union "would not apologise for working with the government to achieve the best health and safety outcomes for its members".
Mr Fowler said he was visiting the supervised school sites to check in on safety and well-being of staff this week.
"I don't have time for student politics," he said.
"I have issued dozens of invitations to meet with Alistair Coe. He always declines."
In a statement, education minister Yvette Berry said there was no "secret" deal in place with the union, as alleged by Mr Coe.
Ms Berry's office later confirmed that there was no "formal written agreement" with the union, but rather an approach that had been agreed to by both parties.
It provided The Canberra Times and other media with a letter from the directorate to the union on April 8, which made clear that it would need to "facilitate fair and flexible working arrangements for all teaching staff which appropriately considers individual circumstances".
Ms Berry said in the statement that the government remained committed to working with parents and teachers in the coming weeks to map out the return to face-to-face learning.
"Unlike the Canberra Liberals we won't be jumping to changes that teachers know are unworkable," she said.
"This isn't a time for scoring political points and I'm disappointed in the Canberra Liberals' behaviour."
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Dan Jervis-Bardy
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
