Page 4009 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 24 October 1990
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MR COLLAERY: Yes. It gets louder, usually. I will read again the ALP's policy on school closure which, very hypocritically, the party has kept out of the limelight during this debate. Essentially, its policy is:
In general, no school will be closed -
I emphasise the words "in general" -
or amalgamated -
so it endorses amalgamation as a possibility as well -
unless the school community agrees.
Members interjected.
MR COLLAERY: There we are, Mr Speaker; they react. They hate me telling them their own policy. It goes on:
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 recognised procedures. We are serious about our policy of participation.
If serious consequences can be clearly demonstrated by a school remaining open, the interests of the ACT must be served.
Anyone reading that can see that it has hedged its bets, Mr Speaker. You have to examine the actual performance of the Labor Party in relation to school closures. In 1988 it closed six schools almost overnight. It did not go through a long period of consultation. It did not chance its arm and issue a discussion paper - - -
Mr Wood: Who are you talking about?
MR COLLAERY: Which is one of the greatest things you do in politics, Mr Wood - through you, Mr Speaker - as you well know. Any government that has the courage to issue a discussion paper will have it examined, analysed and articulated upon by one of the most articulate and informed communities in Australia. The Government exposed itself to that.
That was not what the ALP did in 1988, was it? When we came to government I think there were still six vacant schools, with the grass having to be mowed and vandalism an issue. Those schools were closed 18 months before the Assembly election, but the ALP maintained its commitment to school closure. It maintained a pre-election commitment to consider, in general, schools to be closed when certain circumstances occurred.
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