Page 2721 - Week 09 - Thursday, 9 August 1990
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and enable recurrent savings to be made, in addition to the revenue raised. Preschool services are not being reduced; I emphasise that. Six preschools are to be relocated in local primary schools, and two preschools will close within a cluster arrangement. It is anticipated that this cluster model will be reviewed, and sites could be redeemed.
Also in the matter of public importance proposed by Mr Moore there is a suggestion that the quality of preschool education is in some way at risk. Again, I reject that kind of argument. I believe that the changes will enhance the quality of preschool education. The Government believes that in the delivery of preschool services it is preferable to address the costs related to facilities rather than reduce the quality of the education.
When Mr Moore quoted extensively from the document referring to a debate that was held some years ago he conveniently forgot that in the last few months we have had, working very hard and diligently, a preschool task force which produced, as far as I am concerned, a unanimous report. It indicated that it was entirely appropriate for the Government to consider various options by which to improve the cost efficiency of preschool education in the Territory. That is what the Government now intends to do.
I think it is also worth pointing out that those communities which have chosen to talk to and work with the Government and to accept the premise - an unfortunate and unpalatable premise but, nonetheless, one that we all have to accept - that we need to save money in the education sector have been able to show considerable benefits for that cooperation and work. This agreement in respect of the preschool sector is evidence of that.
Implementation of the proposed closures deserves to be commented upon. In the context of those closures there will have to be careful planning to look at issues such as public convenience and the profile of the broad locality in which changes will occur. It is also obviously appropriate that we look at the references in the preschool task force report that was delivered late last month.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Order, members! There is a four-way conversation going on between some members. If you want to have a conversation, go outside. If you want to make points of order, do so, but give the Minister a chance to speak.
MR HUMPHRIES: It is quite apparent that those opposite are embarrassed by their precipitate statements in this area. They ought to understand that this community is marching ahead of them. They are being left behind. The rest of the community is prepared to talk about the problems facing the ACT. Those people opposite obviously are not. The criteria that we used in respect of quality and other issues in the context of the preschool area paid particular attention to the quality of preschool education and the
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