Page 1907 - Week 07 - Thursday, 31 May 1990
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The confusion the Government has created about the vacant places in schools demonstrates my point. After Mr Humphries proposed a figure of 13,000, he was challenged by Dr Kinloch, who thought it was closer to 9,000. Once again, Mr Kaine firmly put his junior colleague in his place. When he spoke, the Chief Minister accepted Dr Kinloch's figures and said that Mr Humphries' figures were "a bit rubbery". The Chief Minister and the Executive Deputy for education have told the Minister for Education that he cannot get his figures right.
In return, at a public meeting Mr Humphries refuted a statement by Mr Kaine that the quality of education must deteriorate as a result of the Government's proposals. I do not mind that those opposite are an unhappy bunch but I do mind that this Government is causing so much damage in the education sphere. Mr Humphries was challenged about the figure of 13,000 places at a meeting, and I acknowledge his fortitude in attending; I have been to some of those meetings and the people are certainly very angry. He does not know, the community does not know, perhaps no-one knows where that figure came from and how it was established. Maybe the department knows, but it is not telling the Minister.
It seems likely that the rooms that are put to sound education use are included in the figures, but, apart from that, it is not useful to use the concept of vacant places. If the vacant place rates were expressed as a number of rooms it would be more understandable and the spaces would be more readily identifiable.
In keeping with the earlier policy statements about the importance of school autonomy and community participation, Mr Kaine's speech made further reference to those valued concepts. This is what Mr Kaine espouses, but what does he do? In the most significant education measure for 15 years, he proposes to exclude the public from any decision making process and any debate. School closures will be imposed on the community, and the Government does not want to hear the voice of the people. That is obvious when one attends these meetings.
Decisions will be made without reference to those concerned, other than giving them the ability to comment on the curriculum. There will be no opportunity to defend the schools of which people in this community are so proud. In many instances, the Government has shown that it has no intention of allowing the participation of ACT people in any of these activities. It should be honest and remove the words "autonomy" and "participation" from its policies and speeches.
Mr Speaker, let me examine further the Government's misunderstanding of the meaning of "autonomy". In his speech Dr Kinloch claimed that there were consultations through the ministerial consultative committee which he chaired. I respect the people on the committee and the
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