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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (29 March) . . Page.. 1027 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

AusAID has made clear its intention to avoid the mistakes of some of the well-intentioned but uncoordinated international efforts evidenced in recent aid programs such as that in Kosovo. The ACT, together with the other States and Territories, is already working in a combined effort to provide the best results for the people of East Timor from our aid.

Of course we support a planned aid strategy to re-establish the education infrastructure in East Timor. We support too the principle that good education of East Timorese children and young people is one of the best guarantees for East Timor's future success. Mr Stefaniak will be part of the deliberations on a motion about the national program of assistance for East Timor at the meeting of Education Ministers which is being held in Sydney tomorrow and on Friday.

Mr Speaker, restoring basic education services and improving service delivery are proposed priorities for future Australian assistance. AusAID advises that activities being employed include specialised education, training and capacity building programs, the establishment of a scholarship program, English language training, as well as technical and vocational education.

The program of assistance being planned by AusAID will provide a range of opportunities for States and Territories to contribute at a level appropriate to their own capacity. At the ministerial council meeting this week Ministers will be asked to endorse the Commonwealth's plan for education to be a priority sector in its aid program to East Timor. Mr Stefaniak will be supportive of this endorsement on behalf of the ACT Government. Education Ministers will be discussing the membership of the committee to assist in identifying priorities and issues and the better utilisation of joint resources.

It is proposed that the committee will be made up of representatives of the school sector, the vocational education and training sector, universities, the Commonwealth and teachers. Mr Speaker, this seems a sound way to ensure that expert advice is available across all educational sectors. By all means, we may vote here to support rebuilding education infrastructure in East Timor and thus put our in-principle support on the record.

But it is very important that we also remember that the best aid for a country in such a plight as East Timor is aid that leads to good, sustainable outcomes for the people of the country and that any support we give as a nation meets needs to have been researched and targeted to make sure we are giving support that will lead to such lasting outcomes, not ad hoc, ill-planned measures which do not always result in the aid reaching the people who are most in need. Mr Speaker, let us work together with AusAID, as part of the national effort, to get the best results we can for the people of East Timor.

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