Page 4019 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 24 October 1990
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We had the opportunity to take small units out of ACT Administration and have them working with schools. We could have saved the money that we spend on rental. When we spend between $15m and $16m each year on rental there is plenty of opportunity. The schools - this alternative was never presented to them - might have been unhappy about bringing those people into the schools at the time; but, if the Government proceeds with this madness of closing schools, let us not bulldoze them. Let us look at where they can be used appropriately for office blocks.
Let me give the best example of all. This Assembly spends over a million dollars a year on rental. What an excellent opportunity we would have to move to the Pearce Primary School, for example, and convert it, with a one-off capital expense. We know there will be some one-off capital expenses, but the recurrent savings would be well worth it. This Assembly could move to one of those primary schools. That would be a major contribution of this Assembly to education in the ACT, and would allow half those schools to stay open, if there were a million dollar saving.
There could be many other moves. The planners advised this Government not to close almost all the schools, and certainly not to close Weetangera school because of the safety issues.
Mr Duby: That is not true.
MR MOORE: The advice not to close Weetangera school is absolutely true. Do not mislead the Assembly. The advice is there in black and white. They said that if you must go ahead with some form of closure you could allow K to 3 to stay open. That was the advice. It is there in black and white.
Mr Duby: Table it. I defy you to table it.
MR MOORE: I would be delighted to table it. I will go up and get it, and I would be delighted to table it.
Mr Duby: Some time tomorrow? Tomorrow never comes with you, Michael.
MR MOORE: I will table it today before this debate ends. It is an ideologically driven school closures system. Mr Speaker, it is not necessary for me to speak any longer, and if more members kept to their time we would get through more business.
Motion (by Mr Humphries) proposed:
That the debate be adjourned.
Mr Wood: Mr Speaker, on a point of order: this is private members' business. The tradition is that the control of private members' business is in the hands of private members. The Standing Committee on Administration and
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