Page 214 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 1991
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MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Collaery!
MR HUMPHRIES: To expect me to know how many children are enrolled in a particular class in a particular school, and their phone numbers, is just ridiculous. If Mr Wood is going to argue later on that I am ill-informed about education because I cannot say how many people are enrolled in a particular class, that does not constitute any kind of evidence at all of any lack of knowledge or understanding about the education system. While stupid questions like that are asked, the Opposition will come under more criticism and denigration than will this Government.
MR WOOD: I have a supplementary question. Mr Humphries was very quick to point out that he knew data about Lyons Primary School. It just shows where his interest is directed. This is a sensitive area. In view of the nature of the amalgamation now centred at Macquarie - and I want to expand this question - I believe that he should have interested himself in the way the consolidation is proceeding. Will the Minister check the size of that class? I have reports that indicate that it is quite large. Also, I believe that it is being accommodated in a fairly remote location. Will the Minister check to ensure that the class is not unduly isolated, especially since it has children from Cook Primary School in its numbers?
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, I will look into that matter. If Mr Wood wishes to really know what is going on in those classes, he might be better advised to ask me to find out for him, and I will investigate those matters and bring the information into the Assembly. Frankly, while Mr Wood asks questions like that, and then comes into this chamber and bleats about the need for a more constructive approach to education in 1991, I have to treat those sorts of questions with a little bit of suspicion and disdain.
Tuggeranong Parkway Telephone System
MR JENSEN: My question is directed to Mr Duby in his capacity as Minister for Finance and Urban Services. The Minister will no doubt recall that the emergency telephone system on the Tuggeranong Parkway was opened last year. Can the Minister tell the Assembly the extent to which this system has been used since its installation?
MR DUBY: I thank Mr Jensen for the question. I do recall the day that those emergency telephones were opened on the Tuggeranong Parkway. It was Friday, 9 October. It was a very wet and windy day, if I remember correctly.
Mr Collaery: You made the first call.
MR DUBY: That is right; I made the first call on those phones. A total of 14 telephones were placed along the Tuggeranong Parkway between the Glenloch Interchange and
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