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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (23 June) . . Page.. 823 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

Depending on their planned roles in schools, participants' training will include programs in occupational health and safety, student management, writing, conflict resolution, specific curriculum assistant training and sessions designed to foster self-esteem. These young people will be appropriately prepared to participate in work experience in the schools. I think it is shameful that there are so many negative comments from those opposite which would seek to consign them to the scrap heap in such a display of hostility to what is basically a very sensible proposal.

Mr Speaker, screening, appropriate training and selection are the very important things here. Both of the previous programs were hailed as a great success by teachers, participants and administrators. Many of those people have gone on to employment in other areas of further education and training. Several have sought to enter teacher training programs. I think it is fair to say that those opportunities would not be available if the opportunity available in such programs had not existed.

Ms Tucker, you might be interested to know that approximately one-third of the funding we have sought from DEETYA has been allocated to ensure that the participants are appropriately prepared for their work experience in relation to this particular program. The process planned for choosing these participants to work has been designed to enable the selection of appropriate people. They will be screened. Also, there will be careful liaison with Centrelink. So, Ms Tucker, what we have here is a detailed program with appropriate checks.

I understand that the AEU and the P and C Council have been briefed, as well as the primary school principals. I understand that there is a great deal of support, certainly at the school level, for this program, and one can see why. If it is successful - and I wonder about that now, Ms Tucker - it will provide a number of young people with an opportunity for valuable work experience and training. It actually builds on other very successful programs that we have seen. I am very concerned that what you are proposing, and your opposition to it, will put this in jeopardy.

MS TUCKER: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: You have to be joking.

MS TUCKER: My supplementary question is simple. According to the transcript, we were offered confidential briefing and we said, "Yes". Later, the secretary was told, "No; commercial-in-confidence". What changed? My question is - - -

MR SPEAKER: That is not a supplementary question. Order!

MS TUCKER: My question is: What changed between what was said in the briefing and what was said to the secretary afterwards, which was, "No, because of commercial-in-confidence."? That is my question.

MR STEFANIAK: I think you will find, Ms Tucker, that Ms Hinton has indicated already that nothing was ever said about commercial-in-confidence. She has denied that that was ever said, so I suggest that you get your facts right.

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