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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (13 May) . . Page.. 1328 ..

Motion (by Mr Berry) negatived:

That the debate be adjourned.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister) (5.31): I think that it is very inappropriate at this stage to adjourn a debate on a censure motion. I believe strongly that it is important that we do continue this debate tonight. This is an issue that matters significantly to the Minister involved, and it is an issue that should be handled on the day that the debate happens. Mr Speaker, if those opposite felt strongly that they could not quite make up their minds on a censure motion that was announced by the Green members - - -

Ms McRae: We made up our minds. It is Mr Moore's and Mr Osborne's minds we want to make up.

MRS CARNELL: You said that you needed more time to think about it. Now they say that they do not need more time. If they have made up their minds, then there is no reason to adjourn the debate, is there? Let us be fair.

Ms McRae: Why do you not just talk about the substantive issues for a change?

MRS CARNELL: I am just about to do that. This censure is about the handling of consultation in this particular situation.

Ms McRae: No; it is the misleading of the community and the Assembly - point (2).

MRS CARNELL: Paragraph (1) states "in relation to his handling of the consultation and review process about the future of the School without Walls". The first bit is about consultation. I will certainly talk about the second bit as well. The consultation in this situation was not just the consultation that the Minister did. I have to say, from the perspective of a Minister, that I had many delegations to see me about this particular issue, as did all members of this Assembly. There were any number of opportunities for those involved to let members of this place know exactly what they thought about this issue. There were any number of opportunities for members of this place to get further information from the Minister and others. Certainly, I availed myself of the opportunity on many occasions.

We have heard in this debate lots of information about the School Without Walls and about the new facility at Dickson. There is no doubt that we have more young people using the new facility than we had using the old facility. I believe that the role the Minister has played in this has been very courageous - one of those things that in politics you are not very often. He has taken a very difficult decision, but he has taken that decision knowing what will be in the best interests of the young people involved. Really, that is the job of a Minister for Education.

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