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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 7 Hansard (21 June) . . Page.. 2283 ..

Thursday, 21 June 2001

(Quorum formed.)

MR SPEAKER (Mr Cornwell) took the chair and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.

Petition

School bus funding

The following petition was lodged for presentation, by Mrs Burke, from 64 residents:

To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory:

The petition of certain residents of the Australian Capital Territory draws to the attention of the Assembly that:

The introduction of a $27.4m school bus service is of no educational benefit to ACT students.

The funding of this expensive bus scheme will remain an ongoing and increasing economic burden to the people of the ACT.

The $27.4m cost of the scheme would be far better utilised to improve the quality of educational delivery within the ACT.

Students who need the most assistance to achieve better educational outcomes will receive the least benefit from the bus scheme.

Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly to support education in the ACT by redirecting the $27.4m funding, on a needs basis into the ACT education sector, with the priority being the reduction of class sizes and programs to support students at risk.

The Clerk having announced that the terms of the petition would be recorded in Hansard and a copy referred to the appropriate minister, the petition was received.

MRS BURKE: I seek leave to make a short statement, Mr Speaker.

Leave granted.

MS BURKE: I lodged this petition today. We live in a democratic society and I believe that it is my duty as a representative in this place of the Canberra community to express the views of all our constituents. This petition represents a small number of constituents-64, in fact-who are opposed to the $27.4 million school bus funding proposal in comparison with the 16,500 who want this service.

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