Page 3120 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 12 September 1990
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the chamber, to support such a motion. So we are in a bind. If we do not support an inquiry, then we have got cowardice; we are afraid of results; we are not prepared to put up our figures to the cold hard light of day. If we do support an inquiry we lack confidence in our figures. We really cannot win, I think, and for that reason I intend to proceed along the course of action that we see as most appropriate.
I will conclude by saying that I think it is very unfortunate that Mr Wood saw fit to attack the preschool task force report. I believe that was a very good report. The people who worked on that, particularly from the preschool sector, I think showed considerable realism about the future in making that report. The fact that there were some errors in the way in which the figures were presented is not a reflection on the quality of that report, and Dr John Thomson, who was a member, and I think he is still the president, of the preschool society, emphasised when those corrections were made, that that was the case, that you were not to impugn the quality of the report merely because of those errors having been made.
Mr Wood has referred to the Building Workers Industrial Union's involvement in this decision, and its decision to oppose the Government's closure of schools.
Mr Berry: He never mentioned the BWIU.
MR HUMPHRIES: He mentioned it by implication. He said very clearly that there will be no sale of any school sites. That is a very clear reference to the BWIU's action in respect of this, and I think I should convey one question that has cropped up, to my mind, and that is: will the black bans that are going to be applied to the schools this Government proposes to close apply also to the schools that were closed by the Labor Party in 1988 and 1987? If not, and I expect the answer is no, why is it all right for Labor governments to close schools and not for Liberal-led or other governments to do so?
Mrs Grassby: It is not.
MR HUMPHRIES: In that case the black bans should apply with all schools, Mrs Grassby. I wonder whether they will; I doubt it. I think, Mr Speaker, that this alternative put up by the Government is a reasonable one. It covers the issues raised by Mr Stevenson's motion and I would urge members of the Assembly to oppose this motion in favour of the Government's position.
MR MOORE (11.58): Mr Speaker, I am going to keep my speech brief to try to get us to the point where this motion can come to a vote this morning. I will start by saying that I would like to draw to the attention of the Assembly that members of the Weetangera School group are in the Assembly, and I welcome them. I think it is very fortuitous that they are here today, because they have been very vociferous
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