Page 3552 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 12 October 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Public housing seems to have its enemies in this community. For instance, the Kaine-Collaery Government in 1990 was urged to sell off public housing stock. The Follett Government values public housing as an essential ingredient of a socially just city. We will ensure that public housing is effective and efficient. We will respect the housing rights of all members of our community. As I stated earlier, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, this Government is committed to the principle that access to appropriate, affordable and secure housing is the right of every Canberra citizen irrespective of their income. The Follett Government is proud to support public housing reform in the terms that I have outlined today. I present a copy of this statement, and I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
GOVERNMENT SCHOOL ENROLMENTS
Discussion of Matter of Public Importance
MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Stefaniak): Madam Speaker has received a letter from Ms Szuty proposing that a matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly for discussion, namely:
The failure of the ACT Government to effectively manage government school enrolments.
MS SZUTY (3.51): Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, in addressing this matter of public importance, I would like to begin my remarks by stating my support for the concept of priority enrolment areas from which, in most cases, government schools draw the majority of their enrolments. The establishment of priority enrolment areas for schools has enabled parents and students to be cognisant of their neighbourhood school, while recognising that opportunities exist for parents to enrol their children in schools other than their neighbourhood schools. I believe that this policy is preferable to a zoning policy, which gives parents and students no flexibility about which government school students can attend.
Schools have, over the years, effectively developed policies in relation to out-of-area enrolments which provide them with criteria by which they can select particular students who meet those criteria as students for their schools. I have just been involved as a parent in examining the secondary college options available to my son, who is completing Year 10 at Charnwood High School this year. If secondary colleges are able to accommodate out-of-area enrolments once their priority enrolment area students are accommodated, they can select additional students on the basis of confirmed intention to study in particular subject areas, on the basis of sibling attendance or an earlier family
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .