Page 706 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 March 1991
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Mr Collaery: And that is the courtesy you allow the other gender, is it, Mr Speaker?
MR SPEAKER: I am talking about the withdrawal of her statement, Mr Collaery.
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the suggestion that Mrs Grassby would be the last one to accuse me of any scandalous conduct.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you.
Theodore Primary School
MRS NOLAN: My question is to Mr Humphries in his capacity as Minister for Education. While we are all aware that the new Theodore Primary School was officially occupied last Monday, why did it not open at the beginning of the school year and what provision was made for students in the meantime?
MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mrs Nolan for that question. The Theodore Primary School was scheduled to open at the beginning of the school year. Construction work on the site stopped on 23 July last year because of the building contractor, R and G Shelley, being in financial difficulties, and the contract was subsequently cancelled. Another contractor, Manteena Pty Ltd, was appointed and construction work recommenced on 30 August 1990.
As a result of these problems the school building was not ready for occupancy at the start of the school year. Nevertheless, Theodore Primary School began operating, as Mrs Nolan noted, on day 1, term 1, 1991, enrolling approximately 310 students. It operated its kindergarten to year 3 classes at Calwell High School and years 4 to 6 in a transportable classroom at Calwell Primary School. The Theodore Primary School building was handed over to the Minister on 28 February last and classes commenced in the new school building on 4 March, which Mrs Nolan noted was last Monday.
Hospital Redevelopment
MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts. Mr Humphries, on 5 March 1991 you announced that the hospital redevelopment was running on time and on budget. I make that point in the context of information that is flowing in relation to that redevelopment. Last year in this Assembly the Minister announced that the private beds at Calvary were to close to allow for public beds to be transferred from Royal Canberra Hospital. Has this happened or has the Minister misled the Assembly yet again?
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