Page 2479 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 7 August 1990
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It is interesting, Mr Acting Speaker, that some interest has been expressed by members of the committee in matters of importance to the south side of Canberra but I notice that they have forgotten that there is a north side.
Mr Kaine: How would you know? You weren't there.
MR BERRY: One has only to read the recommendations, and the Chief Minister obviously has not bothered to do that. The population projections for Tuggeranong have been noted in the report, but what is most important in relation to that recommendation is that it is a vindication of the claim by the Labor Party and community groups that this Government has not offered justification for school closures again.
The Government has not based its school closure policies on sound projections. It has not done it again. Dollar-driven motives have been the only ones that have been considered by members of this Government - dollars for their big business mates - because, on their own admission, they will save only a couple of million dollars.
Mr Kaine: Only?
MR BERRY: Only a couple of million dollars. Look at the pain and suffering that will be imposed on the community and small business in Canberra, as a result of your decision.
Mr Kaine: I know that was your attitude when you were in government; even $216m did not matter.
MR BERRY: Mr Acting Speaker, I notice that the Chief Minister's behaviour has not changed much since before the long break.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Order, members! Let us just get on with it.
MR BERRY: Mr Acting Speaker, I am sure the quality of the decisions that you might take in relation to his behaviour would be better than those of the Speaker. As I said before, dollar-driven motives are not the only issues which should drive consideration of matters which affect the people of Canberra.
Bonython school, which has been mentioned, is a major part of the schools budget, but the focus of the report suggests that programs that dealt with areas other than Tuggeranong did not receive the same scrutiny as Tuggeranong projects. That is clearly true. The report recommends that the Education Department fully explore the advantages of school facilities being geographically placed to offer greatest community access. But the Government is closing schools to ensure that community access is limited. I just cannot believe these sorts of recommendations from government
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