Page 2198 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 31 October 1989
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which oppose the implementation of compulsory transfer without merit, review or appeal rights? Do you not agree that compulsory transfers between shearing sheds was one of the planks in the formation of the AWU and the Australian Labor Party?
MR WHALAN: I thank Mr Collaery for his question. I would say that among quite a number of school visits that I have undertaken I have had the opportunity of visiting the learning centre at Lyneham High School. I have visited several learning centres in our schools. One of the strengths of our education system is the provision of these specialist facilities. There is demonstrated there an extraordinary dedication on the part of the teachers and, I might add, the teacher assistants. The teachers are ably assisted by non-professional assistants - I should not say non-professional but not professionally trained assistants - so there are the professionally trained teachers and their assistants, and an extraordinary level of commitment to the students.
I spent quite a period in that particular unit and met the students. As a result of the campaign in relation to the particular teacher who was the subject of the publicity in the Canberra Times today, I can report to the Assembly that I have received quite a number of letters from the current students at the school and I have responded personally to each of those letters from the children. Obviously, in some cases, it was a considerable effort for them to send a letter in. I think that their efforts in that respect are a credit to the kids and to their teachers.
However, I am also aware that the department is concerned about the need for greater mobility in the teaching service. It does consider that, in general, it is not in the interests of teachers in a career service, or in the interests of the pupils, for teachers to stay indefinitely in one position. Consequently, the department is considering the temporary transfer for two years of some 50 secondary teachers who have been in their current positions for 14 years or more. I have said before, and I repeat, that the implementation of this policy has been the subject of negotiation and agreement between the Education Department and the ACT Teachers Federation.
The department has also been setting up guidelines to minimise the impact on particular programs and to consider special cases for deferment. I can report that at this stage no decision has been made concerning the particular teacher at Lyneham High School.
Casino
MR JENSEN: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. I refer her to the first recommendation of the Select Committee on the Establishment of a Casino, which urged the Government to:
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