Page 2916 - Week 11 - Thursday, 22 October 1992
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were to be disadvantaged by the cost of reopening Cook and Lyons. It is clear that Mr Wood was deliberately creating and fostering a belief in the community and in this Assembly that the cost of reopening those two schools was $600,000, and no more. There was no question mark about it. That was the amount, indeed, that was provided by way of a revised new policy proposal which the Minister referred to in the 1991-92 education budget. This was a deliberate and calculated misconception created by Mr Wood and the Chief Minister. They did it to comfort the school community, no doubt; and they did it to deceive Assembly members and the community into a belief that the costs were lower than they actually were.
This campaign of the Government, built on the twin statements that the total cost of reopening the schools was $600,000 and that education would not bear any of the cost, was pursued vigorously throughout the last five months of 1991 and even into 1992. The campaign began publicly on 21 June 1991, when in question time Ms Follett said, in response to a specific question:
... I am aware that the total cost for the two schools ... is in the order of half a million dollars - - -
I emphasise to you, Madam Speaker, and to members that Ms Follett said "the total cost". She did not say that it was part of the cost or that the cost did not include any ambit claims; it was the total cost. Mr Wood interjected to modify the reply. He realised that the Chief Minister was on dangerous ground, so he interjected and said, "But there is $100,000 for maintenance of staff". Taking that interjection into account, the impression was established by the two members of the Government that the total cost was about $600,000. Very interesting. We will come to this in more detail.
The same total amount was referred to again and again throughout the succeeding months of 1991 when the Minister was questioned on this issue. However, on that very day, 21 June 1991, both Ms Follett and Mr Wood were aware that the Department of Education estimate for reopening the schools was $880,000 approximately, not $600,000. Mr Wood and the Chief Minister now say, "But we revised it". But on 21 June there was only one submission and that said $880,000 or thereabouts. There was no alternative figure offered. So, where did you winkle $600,000 from? Somebody made it up.
Mr Wood: Wrong.
MR KAINE: If you like, Minister, I will table the letter that you had and the Chief Minister had before you at the time. There was $880,000 approximately.
Mr Wood: I will table another letter that you also have.
MR KAINE: You have had your say. We gave you leave to make a statement and you did not clear yourself. Madam Speaker, on advice to the Minister on 15 June of that year, only six days before, Mr Willmot provided the $880,000-odd estimate for reopening both Cook and Lyons on the presumption that the reopening was on 15 July 1991. Other options were given, including an option to open in the fourth term of 1991, which would have cost $710,000 in round figures, or to open in the first term of 1992, which would have cost about $530,000. The cost in forward years in each case was about $500,000 a year. The departmental advice recommended that those schools be reopened on 15 July - that is,
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