The government pushed yesterday to change sex discrimination laws to get more men teaching in primary schools - after an opposition leader said Australian boys were suffering a "crisis of masculinity."

　　However, Mark Latham's opposition Labor Party refused to support the proposed law change, which would allow colleges to offer men-only teaching scholarships, saying it fails to tackle wider problems in teaching.

　　Howard, who is slumping in the polls while Latham boosts Labor's standing just months before a federal election, accused the new Labor leader of failing to match his words with deeds.

　　Latham "talked the talk. But when it comes to doing something, he won't support us," Howard said. "The Labor Party places a greater priority on not changing a single comma in the Sex Discrimination Act than it does in helping boys who need a male role model."

　　Labor education spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said the government needed to reform teachers' pay and working conditions and accused the government of chasing Latham.

　　"It is terrific that Mark has elevated this issue and I just say to John Howard, I know you're trying to catch up with Mark Latham but if we've got a serious problem, let's get serious about addressing it," Macklin said.

　　Last month, Latham said Australian "boys are suffering from a crisis of masculinity."

　　In Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, only 21 percent of primary school teachers are men, falling to 14 percent for Catholic primary schools in the state. Throughout New South Wales there are 250 government schools with no male teachers at all. Figures for the rest of Australia were not available.

　　(The Associated Press)