Page 1569 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 12 August 1992
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MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, perhaps I should make it clear that this decision that was taken is part of a long process. It is not something that has not had quite a deal of discussion and debate in the past. Nor, of course - it is quite evident, I think - was it a decision taken lightly. We may recall that a former Minister for Education, Paul Whalan, established a task force to look at preschools, and a long string of consultation and decisions followed that. The decision I took on the loose administrative links between preschools and primary schools is consistent with outcomes arising from that.
Following Mr Whalan's review there were a series of pilots and then a review of those pilots. It was commented at the time that administrative linking was a possibility. It perhaps was not the preferred option, because people preferred things to stay just as they were; but it was preferred above a couple of other options. Obviously the decision was one that I thought about for a time. It was made logically at holiday time, because that is when we need to make the changes. We do not make changes in the middle of term.
There has been debate between me and the department and between the department and the Teachers Union and others about the way that preschools are now to be administered, and we are listening to some of the comments that are being made. It is a possibility that some preschool activity will be carried on within the administration. Just what we will decide in the end is being considered at the moment, and I cannot tell you exactly what the outcome will be. We are looking at proposals put to us, but I do not anticipate that we will be reinstating the regional offices; they are finished. Four positions are rather too much, I think, to allocate to preschool administration.
Ainslie Village - CWC Auto Services
MR WESTENDE: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Urban Services. Further to a report in today's Canberra Times concerning Ainslie Village, would the Minister request the management of Ainslie Village to extend the lease of CWC Auto Services, bearing in mind that it has taken longer than expected to establish the government inquiry into Ainslie Village, and bearing in mind that our earlier representations to the Minister on this matter were to leave CWC Auto Services there till the inquiry into Ainslie Village was finished?
MR CONNOLLY: I thank Mr Westende for his courtesy in letting my office know that he was interested in that question so that I could get a precise update on what has happened. At the outset, I am in a position to announce that the inquiry will proceed forthwith. Mr John Kelly, QC, a former judge of the Supreme Court and currently chair of the ACT Community Law Reform Committee, has been appointed by the Government to be the chair of that review committee, which will also comprise a Housing Trust officer, a Commonwealth Department of Health, Housing and Community Services officer, a representative of the Ainslie Village management and a representative of the residents association. That committee is now in a position to commence forthwith.
Ainslie Village, of course, is independent of government. It is the lessee of government owned premises, and it has sublet premises to an auto repair business. There is an acknowledged problem that the lease purpose clause does not cover the running of a motor vehicle repair business on that crown lease, and there are some environmental and health and safety problems about it operating
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