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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 2621 ..

MS McRAE: My question, Mr Speaker, is to the Minister for Education, Mr Stefaniak. Could the Minister explain what he has done following the front-page story in the Chronicle entitled "Fee Furore"? Is the Minister aware of which schools are coercing parents to pay voluntary fees, and what instructions have been issued to these schools?

MR STEFANIAK: I thank the member for the question, Mr Speaker. I trust the member has had a good look at the whole article, because I think that is important in terms of this question. Mr Speaker, the Government's position is quite clear on this. This Government has said that it will not introduce compulsory fees in schools and colleges. Our policy, which we took to the last election, was voluntary school contributions. As you are well aware, I think, Ms McRae, in 1996 school principals were directed to review publications and any correspondence, to ensure consistency with Government policy.

I would expect school boards to consult with their communities on voluntary contributions to achieve a consensus. They should inform families of prospective students, too, of their approach to fundraising prior to enrolment. They must, however, have a consistent approach with Government policy, and when it is drawn to our attention that schools are not doing so the schools are contacted by the department and reminded of their obligations. I would refer you, Ms McRae, to the continuation of the article on page 7 of the Chronicle. You might find one of the comments by the P and C interesting. The article reads:

Parents and Citizens Association Council secretary Trevor Cobbold said there had been a long history in the ACT of discrimination by teachers against students whose parents had not paid voluntary contributions.

"Since the new Education Department's policy has been in place there has been less complaints ...

He goes on to say that there is still continued coercion and intervention and misinformation. I think it is important to see his comment that since the new policy has been in place there have been fewer complaints. That is very significant, Ms McRae - very significant indeed. Whenever these matters are brought to my attention or the attention of the department, through whatever means, the schools concerned are contacted, and I am pleased to see that there are fewer complaints. I understand, too, from my information, that the Chronicle has been monitoring this for some time. It is not exactly like having a hell of a lot of schools there.

Voluntary contributions have been a traditional part of the school system. I have said on a number of occasions that they have been there for decades. They were there when I was in our public school system in the 1960s. The Government certainly encourages families to support their children's education and to make these financial contributions where possible, but we have a policy in this Government that they are voluntary contributions, and that has been made clear. We have had an Assembly inquiry and some very helpful comments in relation to that, which led to the 1996 policy which the department enforces. When it is brought to its attention that schools are not complying -

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