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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3312 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

It is a pity that the Commonwealth is currently prevaricating and not indicating that it is going to do similar things to assist the literacy of Australian students and follow the lead that this Government, quite clearly, has shown in its 21/2 years of office. My colleagues and I, over the weekend, assessed that in terms of programs right around the country the Commonwealth would need to put in about an extra $110m if it was fair dinkum about improving literacy. That is over and above the $200m additional dollars which the States and Territories spend on normal classroom teaching.

Incidentally, Mr Moore, I do not know whether you were a maths teacher, but the States and Territories - there are eight of them - provide $200m extra over and above normal classroom teaching for this. Ours is about $10m. You are well aware, of course, that with a population of 300,000 we are only a bit over 1.5 per cent of the Australian population, but that is 5 per cent; $10m of the $200m over and above the cost of normal classroom teaching that the eight States and Territories and the Commonwealth of Australia put in. Compared with our State and Territory colleagues, I think we are doing pretty well. This Government increased funding in our first year and we have maintained that ever since.

Negotiations will continue with the Commonwealth. I certainly hope that they see sense. There is a real need if they are fair dinkum about pursuing improved literacy standards Australia-wide. It is not only the States and Territories who are expected to kick the can and constantly spend more money. None of the States and Territories are flush with funds. I appreciate that the Commonwealth is not either; but Dr Kemp, quite clearly, has stated that this is a national problem. I think it is terribly important that the Commonwealth, in saying that it is a national problem, increase its effort and put in some extra dollars to improve the situation, rather than just expect the States and Territories to do everything themselves.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, my question is to Mr Kaine as Minister for Urban Services. I refer the Minister to his comments in the Northside Chronicle of 16 September this year where he indicated his support for the upgrading of the last section of the Barton Highway in the ACT to dual carriageway. Can the Minister inform the Assembly of the latest progress on the request for an upgrade of the highway? Will the Minister table a copy of his letter to former Minister Sharp asking for a review of the timing of the upgrade, and also any response he has received from the previous Federal Minister for Transport?

MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, yes, of course I support the upgrade of that section of highway, but I reiterate what I have said before. It does happen to be a Commonwealth responsibility. I think the ACT would be most unwise to start making significant expenditures of money on assets that are the responsibility of the Commonwealth. We have enough difficulty finding the money to upgrade and maintain the road system that belongs to us, without embarking on expenditures on highways and other road systems that are somebody else's responsibility.

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