Page 3946 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 23 November 1993
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I note on a number of the papers a comment like this one, Madam Speaker, "a lowering of morale among staff". That has been low enough these last few years because year after year after year we have had cuts in education in the ACT, for at least a decade, and, Madam Speaker, we have seen from the projections from this Government that that will not stop; it will continue. No choice of electives; more increased supervision; dramatic loss of classes in technology and the arts; significant loss of classes in languages other than English; social education; PE health; equality will most certainly drop. I quote this one because it is excellent: "Bill Wood's rhetoric remains bankrupt until he can propose a better model". The immediate effect will be to reduce student welfare services provided by two executive teachers. Library services to be curtailed. And so it goes on, Madam Speaker.
These are the things that Mr Wood could not identify. He said, "Yes, we are going to do the cuts across education. Where are we going to do it?. Oh, we had better do it at teacher level because we do not know where else to do it". Instead of looking for some lateral solutions, or, better still, not cutting education at all, this Minister has not been able to get together the information so that he was able to argue well enough in his Cabinet and his caucus as to why his schools needed protection. Minister, nobody who values education and understands the importance of our youth having access to all those areas that are set out in the national curriculum as being vital in our schools would do this.
I referred on a number of occasions to languages other than English. I note that in the June 1993 final unedited manuscript of "National languages other than English, the national profile", which the Minister was kind enough to provide some months ago to this person who has no interest in education - - -
Mr Wood: You did not ask for it.
MR MOORE: Madam Speaker, the Minister states categorically that I did not ask for it, and in that sense he misleads this Assembly. Indeed, I did ask for it and I was given it. I appreciate the fact that it was given to me. In fact, Ms Szuty was there when I asked and the Minister was not.
Mr Kaine: Whom did you ask?
Mr Wood: I think that says it.
MR MOORE: I asked the secretary of the department, first, for the briefing, followed by the officer who briefed us, both of whom were, I must say, particularly helpful. That was appreciated. I indicated to the Minister that it was appreciated. I - this person who is not interested in education - have had briefings with the staff of the Minister on quite a number of occasions, with the Minister's approval. It seems to me, Madam Speaker, that this Labor Minister ought to realise that he still has an opportunity. There are still a couple of days to go before this budget is brought on. I think it is time for this Minister to discuss this with his Cabinet and his caucus and for them to put their weight behind the schools and do what people expect of a Labor government - to protect government schools, to protect those least advantaged in our community, because this is what it is about.
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