Page 3850 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 October 1991
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They would not even acknowledge that there was a problem last year. Ms Follett would not even agree to the concept that a serious financial problem was facing the Territory. Even before her budget came down I think the best she could say was something to the effect that we had - - -
Mr Kaine: The problem was not ephemeral.
MR HUMPHRIES: That is right, that the problem facing the Territory was not ephemeral. That is what she had to say then. Now, rather more dramatic language is used about the problems facing the Territory as explanation as to why we have to make these cuts to non-government schooling. It is too late.
Mr Duby: Remember how she would fix it - a nip here, a tuck there?
MR HUMPHRIES: That is right; a nip and a tuck would solve the problem. She certainly nipped and tucked her way into the non-government education budget. She certainly has done a lot of damage there, and it has not been, I think, described as nipping and tucking.
One last point, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, is that this is not socially just. It is not socially just to take a school that receives one-tenth of the funding of other government schools in the Territory and further reduce its level of support from the Territory. The parents of children at those schools do not deserve that, but that is what they are getting from this Government. For goodness sake, reconsider the foolish things that you are doing.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (4.09): Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, there is a lot of stuff and nonsense being put about in this debate by Liberal Party spokespersons and other people who are whipping up hysteria on this issue. The first one, and probably the best one, is the impression that Mr Humphries gave in his last statement, that these poor schools are terribly hard done by, that we have taken away all their funding, that we are throwing them to the wolves.
How many people in Canberra realise how much money this Government is now providing to these schools?
Mr Humphries: Less than it was before; that is for sure.
MR CONNOLLY: To Canberra Grammar School it is $927,290 and - wait for it - 12c.
Mrs Nolan: How many children go there?
Mr Humphries: That is the lowest funded school in the country.
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