Page 1678 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 18 May 1994
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I am often disappointed with what the P and C Council says, as I read their submissions to me, and as I sit at a table and listen to what they say, and I did that a week or so ago. That meeting was a little late. It had no impact on the budget because we had concluded our deliberations by that time.
Let me go back to a remark she made at the outset of her speech, and one that Mr Cornwell or Mr Humphries has made from time to time. I will stand by the comments and the delivery of the promises made in our policy speeches - we give the highest priority to Labor. We do, but let me say - - -
Mr Moore: To Labor; that is right. You have it absolutely right. It was a slip of the tongue, but it was right. You give the highest priority to Labor.
MR WOOD: Let me say this: We have not been able to increase resources to Labor - a simple little fact that Ms Szuty fails to understand.
Mr Moore: You said it again. You made the same slip.
MR WOOD: Mr Moore seems to be wanting to do his old stunt, of coming in here after showing no interest over a long period and suddenly emerging as a hero for education. You do not have the runs on the board to be able to do that, Mr Moore. You do not have the record to do that.
Mr Moore: You bet I do. It starts with 80 teachers.
MR WOOD: You had better start work again. The record shows that we have maintained the highest priority for education. Had we maintained education at existing levels, as the whole of the ACT budget declined, we would, in fact, have been increasing that priority. That is a clear argument. We have maintained that priority. Education has not, over a four-year period, declined in funding to the extent that the ACT budget has. We are not in a position - I do not think anybody except a couple of members in this chamber asserts that we are - to increase funding for education. Mr Kaine, I think, made some comments reflecting Liberal Party policy last night on radio, saying that education has to suffer a very close examination in terms of funding. Mr Kaine said something of that order.
Mr Berry: He mentioned 17 schools.
MR WOOD: Mr Cornwell wants to close 17 schools, I think.
Mr Cornwell: I will talk about that in due course.
MR WOOD: Go for it. We do maintain that high priority for education. The MPI asserts that we have not improved the quality of learning outcomes in schools, or have not maintained them. That is quite wrong. I invite Ms Szuty, Mr Moore and any other member of this Assembly to go to any of our schools. I changed a rule that Mr Humphries applied, of having to go to him for permission. You may willingly visit any school you wish, at any time. I will facilitate that. If Ms Szuty had accepted that invitation she may not have put down this MPI.
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