Page 1666 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 18 May 1994
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Assembly Sitting Costs
MR WESTENDE: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to you. With the budget less than a month away, has the Speaker given any consideration to dispensing with Tuesday night sittings, which incur substantial cost to the public purse in overtime and payment of security staff, committee secretaries, members, and executive staff, secretariat staff, et cetera, not to mention the cost of electricity, heating, et cetera? Will the Speaker indicate or, if she cannot, will she ascertain the extra costs described above for last night's sitting, that is, Tuesday, 17 May?
MADAM SPEAKER: I thank Mr Westende for the question. The question about the cost of last night's sitting I will have to take on notice. The matter of changing Tuesday night sittings has nothing to do with the budget or with me. It is in the hands of the Assembly. It is in the standing orders. If people wish to change the standing orders, it is a matter of doing it by motion. That is what I advise the member to do.
Secondary College Courses
MR KAINE: Madam Speaker, I ask the Minister for Education a question which is quite pertinent in view of the matter of public importance on the notice paper for today. I was reading the Canberra Times recently and came across an advertisement for Phillip College. It advertised two courses, one being astrology for beginners and the other palmistry and fortune-telling for beginners. Does the Minister agree that it is appropriate for courses of this kind to be run at our secondary colleges? If he does, can he tell me when I can expect to see advertised courses on an introduction to the practice of voodoo and advanced analysis of chicken entrails?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, not only that, but I will find out the information for Mr Kaine and get him an enrolment form. It might give him some clues as to the next nine months or so of his career. I would be delighted to give him that information. It is highly likely that, if Mr Kaine had the advertisement, he would see that it is one of the courses run by the school additional to its basic studies. It is not core curriculum; it is not part of its basic process. I have not seen the advertisement. I expect that it is one of the pay-as-you-go courses, Mr Kaine, and I hope that that does not discourage you from enrolling. Nevertheless, to ensure accuracy in this Assembly, I will ascertain the background of the advertisement and advise you so that you may take the action you seek. I point out further to that that Phillip College has a very distinguished record for its students, its programs and the work that goes on there.
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