Page 3474 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 19 September 1990
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The ALP's position, of course, also suggests that it is opposed to the equal provision of facilities to both private and public schools, because, with the addition of this block of land, the Girls Grammar School would still have a total area of only 2.78 hectares, which is still less than the average area of land available to much smaller public primary schools in Canberra. So, while the ALP is advocating that we cannot sell off any public school because of the social amenity, it will deny to this particular school the very same amenities that the ALP is demanding we retain for the public schools. That is a double standard if ever I saw one. I am quite sure that parents with children at private schools will be interested in Mr Wood's argument in this matter.
There is a further factor in this situation which should be brought to the attention of the public. The draft variation to land use policy for this block of land was released for public comment back in June 1990 - three months ago. The Territory Planning Authority has a practice of sending a copy of these variations for public comment to every member of the Assembly, and I am advised that not one member of the Assembly expressed any concern about the matter at the time. It is only now that the issue has been seized upon for cheap political capital - and you know that the timing is fortuitous for you because you have seized on it as a cheap political stunt.
I say that this attack will not wash with either the general community or those large numbers of families in the ACT who send their children to private schools. I hope that Mr Berry, the great procrastinator, is aware that more than 30 per cent of Canberra school children attend private schools. Think on that a bit, Mr Berry.
Mr Wood: Thirty-three per cent, actually.
MR KAINE: Okay. It is an important statistic. When you say that you are going to deny to these schools the same facilities that public schools are granted free, I think you are on pretty thin ice.
Let me say to the Opposition: it is easy to chase cheap popularity by taking a simplistic approach to issues like this one. The Alliance Government does not intend to insult the intelligence of the ACT electorate by pretending that we can avoid taking hard decisions - something that you could not even face up to. The great procrastinator could not even make up his mind what day of the week it is. We are confident that the people of the ACT respect our approach and will reject the irresponsible attitude of the Opposition on this matter.
MR CONNOLLY (3.28): Mr Speaker, the Opposition has long been saying that the school closure decision is the worst decision that this Government has made and a decision that will long haunt it and haunt it to its grave. It is a decision which is rejected and resented by the people of
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