Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 1867 ..

MS McRAE (continuing):

because it is something that we need to be assured that we are on top of and can deal with and that these students who are at risk are not put further at risk with both school-based management placing further strains on their schools, which it inevitably will, and then the absence of a schools equity fund that allows flexibly for their needs to be administered and thought about properly.

I just took this opportunity to raise a few concerns. It seems to me that the Government, at least in this paper, has taken on board some of the issues that have been raised. It is not insensitive to the issues. But I foreshadow that there are schools that are struggling and that will continue to struggle and will need a lot of assistance. I think that we, as an Assembly, whilst noting this paper, should urge the Minister to provide as much flexible support and understanding of these variations as possible. In many cases, they will not be permanent. We know very well that schools go through ups and downs. The mere giving of extra support one year would seem to me to be a catalyst for improvement the following year rather than a commitment that would go on forever. We will wait and see. As I say, I do not think this issue is closed.

MS TUCKER (5.26): I support most of what Ms McRae said. I will be brief, because I think she has covered most of the issues and it is late. In the paper, the Minister, or whoever wrote the paper, pointed out that when market forces have come into play with schools there have been quite serious repercussions in the UK and other places. He seems pretty sure that it will not happen here. I hope not. I see that he supports market principles in just about everything else he does. I can see a very strong philosophical approach that is about market principles in schools too, when he says that choice is an important aspect of the ACT system. If that is combined with school-based management or a lack of equity payments, market forces result in disastrous consequences. We can see that quite clearly in other countries.

Right now, we have the Smith Family providing a scholarship for children to go through our public school system. I think that says it all. That is why I am really worried, and probably why Ms McRae is really worried, in seeing something like school-based management in that climate, where added strain is put on principals, who have become financial managers. I have heard Mrs Carnell say on several occasions, when things have collapsed in various areas, that it was not anything to do with her; it was the financial management of that group that was at fault. It would be extremely unfortunate if we saw that hands-off approach applied to schools that get into trouble.

The equity issue is of huge concern. As Ms McRae said, equity payments are complex. Already this year, we have seen huge stuff-ups, basically, in that area, which makes it difficult for me to feel confident about how this Minister is handling this issue. It was only through extreme political pressure that the Minister reconsidered his approach at that time. I see rhetoric in this paper and I see acknowledgment of concerns, but I am not reassured that all will be well. I will be watching with Ms McRae to see that there is very serious attention given to these issues.

MR SPEAKER: There is a lot to watch, Ms Tucker.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .