Page 3867 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 October 1991
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I wonder whether the Minister would be prepared, at some stage or other, to give an undertaking that he will return the level of funding to all non-government schools to a more equitable basis rather than hide behind - and that is effectively what he has been doing - the formula which has for so long been discredited. It is most interesting, Mr Speaker, that all the other States have long since abandoned the use of this formula. That was why, under the Alliance Government, it was proposed to seek a re-evaluation of that formula. That was being done in consultation with the non-government sector.
This leads me to another area of hypocrisy on the part of the Labor Party. We heard many times, over the last year, about promises given by the Federal Government to government schools in relation to their future. However, it would seem that, since they have the reins of power, there has been a difference in attitude to promises given, in writing, by a Federal Education Minister - a Labor Minister to boot - that there would be no immediate change, that it would be phased in over a period.
The major difference is that, in the case of the government school sector, some schools were going to be closed, whereas in this case no schools are going to be closed; they are just going to have their funding changed overnight without any real chance to enable them to re-establish their budget. That is what the negotiation and discussion were all about - to revise and review the formula that was being used.
The result of the decision could well mean that the AME School, for example, may have to close because of the considerable reduction. I wonder whether the Minister will review his decision.
I also recall a conversation with a mother at the Tuggeranong Hyperdome last Saturday. She advised me that her family had tried both government and non-government systems and had not been satisfied. They had decided to exercise their freedom of choice and seek a place at the AME School. But the rise in fees caused by this decision would not allow them to do so. Freedom of choice, Mr Speaker, is very important and something that the Rally fully supports.
One of the things that used to really annoy me, as president of a P and C in a public school, was the occasions when a parent - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! The time for the discussion has expired.
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