Page 1268 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 11 May 1993
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Legislative Assembly Anniversary : Schools
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (10.27): Madam Speaker, as one of the eight members who stood in this place four years ago - I think on that occasion I was where Mr Cornwell is - it is appropriate that I join this debate. It is also appropriate that the debate on this adjournment motion focuses on school closures because there probably would be no more persistent debate during those four years than that one. It was certainly a destructive debate for the members now opposite, or some of those members now opposite, because it was the straw that broke the Alliance's back.
Mr Cornwell made some comment about Griffith Primary School. The fact of the matter is, as he well knows, that the school effectively closed itself. Regrettably, the community left the school. It came down to a small number of students and you cannot, Mr Cornwell, ascribe three teachers and a deputy to the staffing 34 because the situation was in very considerable downward movement and that staff was about to be taken elsewhere. It was about to be staffed, as the school well knew, in terms of whatever the number of students would generate. Mr Cornwell, I am sure, would realise that. It has been an interesting four years. Those of us who have been here for that period have seen many things change. We have had many arguments across the chamber. I enjoy argument; I think we all do. That is one of the reasons we are in the political arena. I am looking forward to the next four years and beyond.
I was quite intrigued by Mr Kaine's speech, which I saw, as my colleagues did and I am sure as any objective listener would, as a clear repudiation of all the claims of the last few days by the new Liberal leader. He is saying emphatically, "This Assembly is on the right course. Mrs Carnell is wrong to suggest that we should take a different course". Mr Kaine is right. Indeed, this is the unique and, I think, purpose built Assembly that the ACT needs and that Mrs Carnell suggests that we ought to be looking for.
Mr Humphries: Say that out in public. See what they think about it.
MR WOOD: I have, many times.
Mr Humphries: You have not been agreed with, I reckon.
MR WOOD: I know. I freely acknowledge that we have not won 100 per cent or right up to that level of the ACT community, but the fact is that this Assembly - I am telling you what you know - is both local government and State government. It is the sort of regional collection that many people are saying Australia should move to - a coalescence of regional and State government.
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