Page 244 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 12 May 1992
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Mr De Domenico: But has there been any consultation with everyone?
MR CORNWELL: Mr De Domenico, everybody has been consulting. I see here a report on 24 April: "The Federal offer to pay for TAFE not agreed to yet. TAFE funding and its logistics are expected" - now wait for it - "to be the centrepoint of the Premiers Conference".
Mr De Domenico: Which one? June, or next year?
MR CORNWELL: No, that was on 24 April. So, I moved a little closer to the edge of my chair in excitement. Again, on 30 April, it was reported: "Government set for reforms of education". At that stage I was really teetering on the edge of it because it said that Mr Beazley's Cabinet submission - - -
Mr De Domenico: Who?
MR CORNWELL: Mr Beazley. He is the Minister for Employment, Education and Training. It said that Mr Beazley's Cabinet submission will be made in the context of the 11 May Premiers Conference and talks about general funding and untied grants. The report said that the Government is keen to maintain momentum on the Carmichael report. Well, we got some momentum yesterday, did we not? It was put off until the end of June, until the June Premiers Conference. In the meantime we have a million people out of work, we have massive youth unemployment not only in this Territory but right across the country, and what do we find? The One Nation economic statement.
I find even the term "One Nation" amusing when you consider that what this Federal Labor Government has done over this controversy with the flag is, if anything, to divide the nation rather than create one nation. But we all know, of course, that this is a smokescreen to avoid the real issues. These real issues should have been addressed in this conference yesterday, but they were not. As my colleague Mr Humphries said, there is important micro-economic reform that we have to address in this Territory. I certainly have no argument that it has to apply in education as much as anywhere else, but we have seen no effort on the part of this ACT Labor Government to address that question.
Mr Wood: You are unkind.
MR CORNWELL: On the contrary, statistics would indicate, Mr Wood, that, if anything, the micro-economic reform that should be being addressed is in fact being even more neglected. We now have here a situation where the number of surplus spaces in schools has increased.
Mr Wood: By what per cent?
MR CORNWELL: By 213, Mr Wood, from 1990 up to 1992, on your own figures that you provided to me a couple of days ago. That is approximately 106 per year.
Mr Berry: Have you been counting broom cupboards too?
MR CORNWELL: Do not talk to me about statistics, Mr Berry. Your bed numbers do not justify you making those comments. It is 106 per year. Obviously, by 1995, when the Chief Minister's guarantee that no school will be closed expires, that figure will have increased to 500 additional places, and that,
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