Page 4898 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 26 November 1991
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I also recall asking Mr Wood what action he was taking to cater for the likely rush of former students from non-government schools who may be required, because of the increase in fees, particularly at the AME School, to go to the government schools. I seem to recall a statement in the media by the principal of one of the schools in Belconnen that they were making arrangements to enable parents to come to their schools for discussions to make sure that the program their children had been following in the non-government schools was available for them in the schools in Belconnen.
For Mr Wood to brush that off as if he was brushing away one of Australia's famous bush flies is very flippant. It is most unlike Mr Wood, who normally approaches these issues in a very firm way. I took that as a very interesting comment on the concerns that may have been expressed within the Labor Party in this area.
It is also important to note that on 21 November I placed on notice a question to Mr Wood which asked for a breakdown for the 1991-92 budget of the funds, both recurrent and capital, being provided for both government and non-government schools in the following categories of students; preschool, primary school, high school and secondary college. I asked whether the Minister would provide this information and, if not, why not. I admit that that was only five days ago, and I will give Mr Wood a chance to put that information together. Knowing Mr Wood, I am sure that that question will be answered pretty sharply.
We have also heard in the past, and the matter has been raised in this place, about the letter from Senator Susan Ryan dated 15 May 1985, which quite clearly indicated that there would be no sudden changes of the sort that will be wrought upon the system by the changes proposed by Mr Wood. We all know how similar letters were used by the Labor Party in debates in this place and in the public arena about other promises given by Commonwealth Ministers in relation to funding and the provision of facilities for schools. It seems to me that in one case it is okay but in the other case it is not. It is almost a case of deciding what suits you and being very selective in your approach, as we often see with members of the Labor Party as they selectively quote statements from other members.
Finally, I point out that we all pay our taxes and it is appropriate, I believe, for the taxes to be spread evenly. Let me refer to one element of choice that used to annoy me when I was president of the P and C in a public school and a member of the board at the same time. There were times when single parents would come to members of the board and to the principal seeking time to pay their voluntary contribution. They wanted to pay their voluntary contribution because they knew how important it was to the school, but they were in dire straits. They were prepared to come to the school and ask the question.
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