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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 10 Hansard (6 December) . . Page.. 2722 ..

MR STEFANIAK: I thank the member for the question. As I indicated yesterday, there are altered benefits to be had in relation to the new proposals, which I will not go over and which were not arbitrary. The second part of Ms Follett's question relates to parents being talked to. Parents have been talked to and will continue to be talked to in relation to this matter. I understand that there was a meeting of parents and departmental officers yesterday and that the parents were very - - -

Mr Berry: How about listening to the question?

MR STEFANIAK: There have been a number of other consultations. The parents who have been spoken to in relation to this, I understand, are quite happy with what is being proposed. As I suggested yesterday, the new proposals have a lot of merit. People will find the system is a much better one, for all the reasons that I mentioned yesterday.

MS FOLLETT: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. My question was: What is the consultation process that you have now put in place? You are referring to discussions that took place after you had made the decision. I do not regard that as consultation at all. I ask: Why was this decision made in such a hurry, without any consultation whatsoever? What was the urgency about the 1996 program?

MR STEFANIAK: I do not think that it is a question of urgency in relation to the 1996 program. The question was to put in place a program which would meet the needs of particular students. That has now been done; and there has been consultation with not only parents but also a range of community groups in relation to that.

Government Service - Enterprise Bargaining

MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, through you, I have a question to Mr De Domenico, the Minister for Industrial Relations. I note that industrial action generated by the trade unions seems to be coming to a boiling point just on Christmas.

Mr Berry: I tell you what; this sounds like a ministerial statement to me. Trevor is on the way back.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR KAINE: Would you like to throw them some meat? It is obviously feeding time at the zoo.

MR SPEAKER: Maybe some grain, Mr Kaine.

Mr Berry: You have the nostrils flared and the smell of high office.

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