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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 2624 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

a non-government school, than for that school to fall over. We have seen that in the government sector and we have seen that in the non-government sector when schools do not remain viable. We saw it last year, I think, with the AME School at Weston. We have seen it in some instances in terms of government schools, too.

I think sensible planning by both sectors is terribly important. I think they accept that. That is why I think this first cut, which has been criticised in various respects, and rightly so by a number of sectors, has to be redrafted. It has to go out again for further consultation. I think it is important. I think we are dealing fundamentally with pretty sensible people in both sectors. I think what we can come up with here in the ACT is some very sensible guidelines, ultimately, in terms of the final draft, which will quite clearly benefit both the government and non-government school sectors in the ACT in the years to come.

MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question. Indeed, that is what a draft is about, Minister. But are you embarrassed, Minister, that you told this Assembly one thing and then a draft - I accept that it was just a draft - appeared that was inconsistent with what you told the Assembly? What are you going to do about that in terms of the way your department responds to what you tell this Assembly?

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Moore, this is a fairly significant and lengthy document. Perhaps one particular paragraph could have been done a little bit better to mirror exactly what I said here. Apart from that, though, I think the other points are covered reasonably well, but it is a first draft. What am I going to do about it? I am going to ensure, when the next draft comes to me incorporating all the comments made by the sectors, that that draft does incorporate those comments for further consultation with the relevant sectors, Mr Moore. It is probably a little harsh to criticise the people who did this paper if they made what you say is an error in relation to only one particular area. Maybe that is a bit unfortunate, but this is a first cut. This can be rectified along with the various comments we get from the sector which have been picked up by both the P and C and the Independent Schools Association and currently are being taken into account by the department.

MR HIRD: My question is to Mrs Carnell in her capacity as Minister for Business and Employment. Mr Speaker, this Government is trying to do something about business. Those opposite had five years and did nothing.

Mr Berry: I thought you were going to say, "What are you doing here?".

MR SPEAKER: I warn you, Mr Berry.

MR HIRD: Those people opposite did absolutely nothing during their five years to help small business prosper within this Territory. I direct this question to the Minister responsible for business. Is the Minister aware of the results of the latest Small Business Index released by Yellow Pages this week? If so, can the Minister outline what the survey results have shown about small business confidence in the Territory?

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