Page 2347 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 1 November 1989
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schools consultative committee at which the Canberra Pre-School Society was represented. Dr Thompson was advised to contact Mr James Dexter and to advise him of their views so that the views of their group could be expressed through the appropriate consultative process at the meeting last night.
I might add that there will be further consultations on Friday morning between the executive of the Preschool Society and the chairpersons of the area preschool advisory committees in relation to these matters. That meeting will have the benefit of the final enrolment figures that have come in, and that will further enhance the quality of the consultation that will take place.
One of the features which I find intriguing is the economic rationalists on the other side of the chamber being unable to come to terms with the reality of the dilemma which any responsible administration faces in the light of static enrolments and an expanding system and the need to expand the system to provide for the needs of newly developed areas.
I can assure you, Mr Humphries, there is no way that we are going to neglect the frontier suburbs in Tuggeranong. This is precisely the outcome that Mr Humphries wants in order to protect the nice, cosy Liberal areas in the inner suburbs - in Hawker and Weetangera where the vote is high for the Liberal Party. Does he care for the people out in the frontier areas, the people who live in places where the trees are still only two feet high? This is the real motivation.
In fact, Mr Speaker, I could offer a solution to part of our problem, and Mr Humphries might be one who could help us out in this area. Let me quote some statistics. In the Woden-Weston Creek area there are 22 preschool vacancies; in Central Canberra there are 62 vacancies; in South Belconnen there are 80. In the Central Canberra there are 93. What we need is a higher birth rate in some of these suburbs.
Mr Moore: I am doing my best.
MR WHALAN: I congratulate Michael Moore on his contribution and commitment in this area, but I think there are other younger members of the Assembly who could do their bit.
Mr Kaine: I am trying too!
MR WHALAN: Those with a community conscience and a commitment to the preservation and development of our preschool society and preschool system surely must demonstrate their commitment in this particular way.
The guidelines have been stated quite clearly. There is no conflict between my statement of the guidelines and the
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