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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 2460 ..

MS TUCKER: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Minister, maybe you did not hear my quote. I said that ACTEW's release refers to "a significantly enhanced energy market for Yallourn". I would argue that there are environmental implications. Given that you have answered that you were not aware of this before, that the contract has not been gazetted, that Territory-owned corporations are not required to do that, and that you have advised me that the contract is commercially sensitive and not available for release, will you recognise that a matter of major public concern has been raised, and will you use your powers under Part 3 of the Act to require ACTEW to show and justify the processes it used when deciding to award this contract to Yallourn and, in particular, in Dr Sargent's words, the process for assessing that "it causes no particular environmental change one way or the other"?

MR KAINE: You have been informed by ACTEW that there is some commercial sensitivity to the contract, and I am sure there is. As I said, we set them up as a commercial operation. They have to operate out there in the big wide world of competition. Their task is to ensure the supply of electrical energy for residents of Canberra at a reasonable price and to ensure that that supply is open to us. I would need to be convinced of the need to give a direction to the board to make available documents which, they say, have commercial sensitivity. There are two sides to every contract. It is not only ACTEW; there is another party to the contract. I would need to be convinced that there is sufficient reason for me to take the step that you are suggesting. If you can give me sufficient reason to do so, then I will consider that.

MS McRAE: My question is to the Minister for Education, Mr Stefaniak. Could the Minister explain what he intends to do for schools whose income is not sufficient to meet their obligation under school-based management and how many schools are facing such difficulties?

MR STEFANIAK: I thank the member for her question. Mr Speaker, the whole point of enhanced school-based management, because we have had school-based management in various forms in the ACT for some time, is to enable schools to have a little more say in terms of how they spend their money and to give them more flexibility in making arrangements. Ms McRae, in relation to schools that experience difficulties, we have, as you know, set up help desks in the department to assist them. Certainly this year and, I think, even going back to last year, you have raised similar issues on occasions in the Assembly. I have indicated to you that if any schools are experiencing any difficulties in any way they should contact the help desks; or if there are some particular problems with schools they should contact me. I understand the help desks are indeed being used; but, in terms of specific schools contacting me, no-one has.

In relation to not raising sufficient moneys, I would hope, because of school-based management, schools will have a greater capacity to raise money and a greater capacity to spend the money they have in the way they want to spend it, thereby giving them the opportunity to perhaps have a little more money available to them through more flexibility and savings they might make in terms of certain works they do and things like that.

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