Page 2618 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 8 August 1990
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DR KINLOCH: May I say to Mr Berry, if he does not believe me I am sorry for him. I am telling the truth; that is the way it was. I come directly to the discussion of the matter of public importance. The main gist of Mr Stevenson's motion is the need for the ACT Legislative Assembly fully to consult with school representatives, parents and citizens. I want to say, on behalf of both the Minister for Education and myself, that there has been no deficiency in that connection on our side, nor indeed, I am sure, on the other side of the Assembly. I think in particular of Mr Wood.
Mr Moore: Of course there has. What absolute nonsense!
DR KINLOCH: When people tell me something is absolute nonsense, I feel I have to refute them as I now intend to do. I am sure that both Mr Wood and Mr Moore have had a similar experience. I will now tell you how many people I have consulted since 19 June. We have consulted with the Canberra Pre-School Society and individual members of that council. We have consulted with - - -
Mr Berry: How many agreed with you?
Mr Duby: You ask a question and you will not listen to the answer.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: I think he is entitled to standing order 61. Let the member continue his speech without constant interruptions.
DR KINLOCH: We have also consulted with P and C representatives several times in formal meetings, individually in informal meetings and by phone many times. Both the Minister and I have met individual groups in this Assembly. We have been to individual boards and P and Cs as requested and will continue to do so. I have been part of a ministerial consultative committee which has met regularly and which includes members of the community.
Mr Berry, Mr Moore, I am telling you the truth and I am only a third of the way through the list. Some of us have been, others have been - on both sides of the house - to specially called public meetings. Mr Moore has certainly done his duty there, as has Mr Wood. So have members on this side of the house when we could - for example, at Hackett, at Yarralumla and at Weetangera. We have been to meeting after meeting after meeting to consult. I have been to preschool groups in their homes and, may I add, when I was ill they came to my home.
We have been to school by school by school, both government and non-government, preschool, primary, secondary and college, week in and week out. I must have visited anything between 30 and 40 schools since the beginning of this task. I have been to school fetes, special occasions, special functions. I have had weekly and sometimes daily briefings with Department of Education officers, including regional officers.
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