The story on the front page stated Minister for Education and Training Bill Wood, foreshadowed a drastic reduction in working conditions of the ACT's 2700 teachers.

The president of the ACT branch of the Australian Teachers' Union Rosemary Richards, warned last night that teachers would be likely to take industrial action against any moves to reduce working conditions.

"Mr Wood gave a strong indication that the government was looking at cuts in the education portfolio to help meet a Budget shortfall of $70 million."

Canberra's public-school system costs $196.2 million a year.

Mr Wood said a survey of rate payers had indicated that the Canberra community was not prepared to carry increases in rates, taxes or levies to maintain education or other services.

Teachers in ACT government schools benefited from conditions not enjoyed by their counterparts in state school systems.

Also reported on the front page of The Canberra Times was that a series of blunders at the ACT Motor Registry led to the cancellation of a police officer's driving licence for five months without his knowledge.

Senior Constable Bob Cameron from Tuggeranong Police Station, found out that his licence had been cancelled by mistake after his name was confused with another driver called Cameron over unpaid parking fines from 1986.