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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (27 October) . . Page.. 2278 ..

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

MR SPEAKER: Proceed.

MS TUCKER: I am still not at all clear on whose responsibility this is. Mr Moore says he has no responsibility for it. The Minister, as I understood it, has just said he is aware that the department is of a particular view that this is not advantageous for the education of students. So he is aware that his department was of that view. However, there has been a trial. Because the teacher is keen to have the trial, therefore does this mean that, for example, because members of the Downer preschool community are keen for it to stay open, you will override your department's advice? Or is it the case that you have advice which you can provide to the Assembly that shows the department said to you, "We need to trial this kind of split campus arrangement."? Mr Moore had nothing to do with it; I heard him say that. Can you show the Assembly that advice from your department? Or did you totally override it, for whatever reason - nothing to do with Mr Moore?

MR STEFANIAK: I do not think there is any doubt about the fact that Mr Moore lobbied strongly in relation to a number of things regarding preschools. Certainly, as a government we have had quite a few discussions about that, as we do about a number of issues where certain of us have very strong views.

Ms Tucker: Can we see the advice then? Can we see your department's advice to say that this is a good idea?

MR STEFANIAK: For example, Ms Tucker, I will certainly lobby any relevant Minister in my own Government on, say, law and order issues - things which I have a particular interest in as a result of my previous profession.

Ms Tucker: Can we see the advice that said it was a good idea, or was it Mr Moore's idea?

MR STEFANIAK: As to whether the department had some severe concerns about it and concerns had been expressed as a result of the current situation and its potential problems, I would stress that this worked some years ago. We have a teacher who is keen to do it. We have a very real situation of a large number of part-time preschools. I think we would be putting our heads in the sand if we were never prepared to trial anything. I am not prepared to do it on the basis of anything other than a trial, Ms Tucker, because - - -

Ms Tucker: I do not have a problem with trials. I want to know whose idea it was. Why do you employ public servants to give you advice if you ignore it?

MR STEFANIAK: I am aware of certain possible problems that could arise as a result. But a competent teacher is keen to do this. I have every confidence in the teacher's ability - and I am sure you are not saying the teacher is not competent - to have a go and do a good job. I am mindful that it is a trial. Ms Tucker, I take the advice - as do all my colleagues - of our public servants very seriously. I do not think you will find that it was

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