Page 2623 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 8 August 1990
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MR COLLAERY: Mr Acting Speaker, I would like to read into the record the ALP policies on school closures for the last election. They said:
If circumstances arise where the educational viability of a school due to significantly declining numbers needs to be examined, we will ensure thorough and genuine consultation with the community, based on recognized procedures -
whatever they are.
We are serious about our policy of participation.
If serious consequences can be clearly demonstrated by a school remaining open, the interests -
and this is very ambiguous -
of the ACT must be served.
No mention of the students.
This is a very hedged bet policy. The policy of the Residents Rally was quite similar to that but it did not hedge its bets. It said that there would be genuine consultation and the Rally in government here has sought to ensure that. In the few seconds available to me after the ranting and raving opposite I want to say this: I want to ask what Labor caucus in this country would invite a community activist into - - -
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Acting Speaker; it seemed to me that there was a suggestion from the Deputy Chief Minister opposite that this member who was talking here earlier was in some way mad or unwell and I think these sorts of accusations are unparliamentary.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: The words "ranting and raving" are not a problem. You can use that terminology to each other if you wish. Mr Collaery, I will give you another 20 seconds.
MR COLLAERY: What Labor caucus in this country would invite a community activist like Frances Perkins into its party room to state her case? Is not this the very essence of consultation, to bring that group into our own party room? Indeed, the turning point in that debate occurred in that joint party room when Dr Perkins acknowledged that at the commencement of the J-curve for savings, savings could be achieved by the closure of a small number of schools.
MR JENSEN: I claim to have been misrepresented.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: How do you claim you have been misrepresented, Mr Jensen?
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