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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 738 ..
MR BERRY (continuing):
ministerial staff member in turn disclosed it without authority to a departmental liaison officer who inappropriately forwarded it to the relevant department.
And on it goes. I say no more in response to that. I think members can see what I am getting at, particularly government members who might be on committees. At the same time I will say that it is a difficult job, if one is a member of several committees, to process all the work of the committees. I understand that, but there are certain boundaries you cannot cross. I think the warning shot that I fired by way of the now withdrawn amendment should express, in some way, a level of concern in this Assembly. I just hope that the Government takes that into account when they are trying to pressure members into a certain course of action through these committee processes. They have to take into account the role their members have on these committees as well. I understand all the philosophical positions which occur and, as I said before, I understand the pressures on members, but I think the history of committees and their role in the deliberative process in this place has not only to be respected but must be seen to be respected.
MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education) (11.26): Mr Speaker, I am somewhat surprised at Mr Osborne's amendment at this incredibly late stage when the scheme is effectively up and running. It will be starting very shortly. All the arrangements have been made and the money is through and everything. Really, it is far too late and the Government is bound, I think, simply to go ahead. I call on members to reject this amendment.
A lot has been said about this scheme, but I just want to make a few more points, Mr Speaker, and to reiterate a couple. The schools are ready to go. Despite all the fuss and nonsense that has gone on about this matter, despite all the groups who have opposed it, such as the AEU, we still have a significant number of schools in the government sector who want to go ahead with this scheme and are prepared to do so. It is voluntary for the schools concerned, and I think that should be respected.
Members must realise that this is, in fact, a popular scheme. It is a scheme that is popular in Australia. I reiterate the advice I have that over 4,000 schools in Australia - I have named some in other States - are involved in very similar work for the dole projects. There are figures in relation to the effect of the scheme for young Australians who are unemployed, and that is what we are talking about. I think the figures issued by Senator Reid last year show that in three months 34 per cent go into full-time work, and another 11 per cent within three months of completing this scheme.
It being 45 minutes after the commencement of Assembly business, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 77.
Motion (by Mr Humphries ) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:
That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent consideration of Assembly business, order of the day No. 1, continuing beyond the time allotted to Assembly business this morning.
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