Page 2328 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 1 November 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
been. They start in those preschool areas and go on to the primary and secondary areas and to the colleges.
So here again one could argue that the neighbourhood preschool - I stress neighbourhood - is a special area not merely for the absolutely necessary training of these four-year-olds before they go on to school but also for the parents. It is at a time when it is more than likely that the parents are involved with heavy mortgages, are one-income families, with mothers who are trying to cope. I want to endorse this motion that Mr Humphries will be putting before us. I do believe the Government needs to look very carefully indeed at this crucial area. I look forward to seeing the motion put before the Assembly.
MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (4.09): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Mr Humphries for giving us this opportunity today to state once again - and on the public record - the Government's position in regard to the amalgamation of part-time preschools and the bright future of our excellent preschool system.
I wish to reiterate a statement which I made in this Assembly only last week. I challenge the assertion of Mr Humphries that his question in relation to this matter was not answered, and that relates to his allegation that we, the Labor Government, had in some way reneged on our promise not to close any schools.
We have not reneged, and we will not renege, on the undertaking that we gave not to close schools. It was absolutely essential that there be a distinction drawn between schools that form part of the schooling system of compulsory education and preschools that do not. That was the distinction that was clearly made.
Mr Humphries: Not last week, it wasn't.
MR WHALAN: The Government's commitment is to do with schools. Let me go on to say, however, Mr Speaker, that no government and certainly no Minister - and I include myself in that category - wants to be perceived as taking courses of action that upset the public. I can assure you that we would much rather be in a position to be able to hand out largess and spread good news.
Unfortunately, the harsh reality that faces us - and I am interested to know Dr Kinloch's thoughts on this matter - is that we are confronted by hard times. Things are not as bright as they may have been in the past, and the amount of money available to be spent on public services is less than what some elements of the community would perceive as being their right and the needs that are emerging within the community.
It is the fact that what we face in the ACT is a static school population and an expanding education system which follows the expansion of suburban development in the ACT.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .