Page 3855 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 October 1991
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was very embarrassed to find out about the decision in relation to the forward estimates; I was told by people in the community, rather than my colleagues within the Alliance, about that proposal. That really was not appropriate. I do not think the fact that the decision may not have been taken is a very relevant argument in the circumstances.
The other situation that I am very concerned about, Mr Wood, is the discussion paper that the former Government put out, which gave options for reviewing the relationship of recurrent grants between non-government and government schools, and the government school costs and the Commonwealth grants. There were some 28 responses, I understand, to that discussion paper.
Again, as I recall from the Estimates Committee, you said that the review was still being completed. You made the decision in relation to those three non-government schools, knowing that that review was still in process. These reviews cost money; it is a pity that you did not wait until that review was available before you made such a decision. The other thing that worries me is that perhaps there is going to be something in relation to that review that you really would not have wanted to contemplate in relation to this issue.
We are all aware of the guarantees and the promises that you made, Mr Wood, in relation to these particular schools at the Albert Hall. You certainly gave a commitment which guaranteed that funding to those three schools, along with all the other non-government schools, would continue in the same manner as it was continuing then. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.
I mentioned briefly the timing, and I think that really was not given any consideration at all.
Mr Wood: What do you want to do about it now?
MRS NOLAN: The fact that you did not consult with the school communities and only informed them really shows that the consultation certainly is plastic. You are asking me what I would want to do about it. I have given you my view long, hard and strong on many occasions, Mr Wood. I would not have spent the money on opening the two very small government schools, and you would have had the $530,000 that you - - -
Mr Wood: No, you know that there is no connection.
MRS NOLAN: No connection?
Mr Wood: That is right.
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