Page 1814 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 30 May 1990
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noted that there are far fewer women of child-bearing age as a proportion of the population of older suburbs. These facts lead us to the obvious conclusion that schools that may be closed will not need to be opened again.
When schools are closed children will not be denied access to a local school. They will not have to go across town, because we will still have community schools. We will still be the envy of all other States and we will still have the best education system in the country. These facts underlie the fact that the school consolidation program is people driven just as much as it is budget driven. It is about government being responsive and providing services where people need them.
People obviously get attached to the schools which they have lived near and which either they have attended or their children have attended or are still attending. However, I ask the community whether it is fair to deprive the current generation of students of a proper, balanced education system just for the sake of maintaining capital stock as a sort of monument to our education. The Alliance Government is committed to quality - - -
Mr Moore: It does not have to be a choice like that. Set your priorities.
Mr Duby: Shut up, you dope.
Mr Moore: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; Mr Duby has referred to me as a dope. I would like him to withdraw it.
MR SPEAKER: Please withdraw it if that was the case, Mr Duby.
Mr Duby: Mr Speaker, I was not referring to Mr Michael Moore personally. I was referring to the substance of his remarks.
MR SPEAKER: No, that does not qualify as a withdrawal.
Mr Duby: I withdraw it, Mr Speaker.
MS MAHER: The Alliance Government is committed to quality of education. The school consolidation program is an important part of the efforts to ensure that we can continue to afford quality education when the Commonwealth's special funding ceases in July next year. I believe that our school system does not have to deteriorate just because we may have to close some schools. The discussion paper which was put out by the Minister is just that - a discussion paper. Many schools and people are responding and putting in submissions. I have a son who is at present going through the ACT public school system, and I personally do not want to see the system deteriorate in any way, for his benefit and for that of all the other residents of the ACT.
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