Page 1297 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 16 April 1991
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MR HUMPHRIES: What else are you? If the shoe fits, wear it, I say.
Mr Collaery: But you would break the knees first.
MR SPEAKER: I do not uphold your objection, Mrs Grassby.
Mrs Grassby: I take another point of order, Mr Speaker. I ask Mr Collaery to withdraw that - "break their knees".
Mr Collaery: What you give you should take. Mr Speaker, if she withdraws I will too.
MR SPEAKER: I am afraid I did not hear your comment. If you would both withdraw I think that would resolve the matter. Do you withdraw, Mrs Grassby?
Mrs Grassby: Yes, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Collaery?
Mr Collaery: Yes, Mr Speaker.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, what mechanism is proposed by the ALP to consult with communities about reopening schools in the life of the next "Follett Government" next year? What is proposed? We have not heard a word about that. We have not had a word about how they are proposing to consult with the community. I quote from this rag they have been distributing. In a carefully hedged promise they say:
A Follett Government - - -
Mr Jensen: What if it is a Connolly Government?
MR HUMPHRIES: I think we could read it as a Connolly Government, of course. They say:
A Follett Government will re-open any school closed by the Alliance Government, with the agreement and support of the local community involved and teachers, as long as the building remains intact.
Mr Speaker, what is the mechanism for doing that? Can that be explained by the next speaker for the Opposition? How are they going to do that? Are they going to call back everybody who used to be at the school that was closed and have a vote? Are they going to ask the local school community to get together in a public meeting and have a vote? What are they going to do? The fact of life, Mr Speaker, is that they have no intention of complying with that promise. This is a ploy to win votes at the next ACT election. It is nothing more and nothing less.
Mr Connolly has emerged on the scene of school closure debate, beating his breast and saying, "I am a great champion of schools staying open, the champion of
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