Page 3841 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 October 1991
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there was a decreasing funding in real terms, was plan ahead. These cuts that have just been announced do not allow those schools to do any planning. There should be no change, certainly not this suddenly. You are saying that at the start of next year they are going to receive less funding. How on earth can they fairly plan for such cuts?
What is the goal of the ALP Government in making these cuts? Certainly, we would all say that we have as a goal good educational standards for children in the ACT. The claim has been made by many people, certainly by some eminent speakers yesterday, that the ACT Labor Party goal is an ideological one; it does not have to do with high standards in education or equity. Mr Berry nods.
Mr Berry: It is true.
MR STEVENSON: It is true. I am sure he will have the opportunity to explain it.
Mr Berry: That is what politics are about.
MR STEVENSON: One would have thought that politics were about representing fairly all people in the community. Once again, it is an attack on freedom of choice. The parents in Canberra will not have the same opportunity as this ideologically-driven move by the Labor Party continues. Do not think for a moment that other non-government schools in Canberra do not think that they will be next; I am sure that they do.
Let us have a look at the ALP policy commitments. What has the ALP, specifically Mr Wood, said in the past? What has he said about funding of non-government schools? Let me quote. On 27 February 1989 the present ACT Minister for Education wrote to the president of the Association of Parents and Friends of ACT Schools and said:
The ALP will maintain all existing funding arrangements.
Tell me how the 50 per cent and 20 per cent cuts to three non-government schools equate with maintaining "all existing funding arrangements". At a meeting at the Albert Hall in May 1990, at which many of us were present, the current ACT Minister for Education said:
A Labor Government in the ACT will continue the financial commitment to non-government schools. This support will be in accordance with the Federal Government's needs based criteria and will be maintained at present levels in real terms.
What happened to that commitment? It is all very well saying that you have maintained the commitment, but I suggest that 50 per cent and 20 per cent cuts show that you obviously have not.
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