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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 7 Hansard (21 June) . . Page.. 2356 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

around in a uniform, Mr Rugendyke, I stood in front of another school on the south side-

Mr Stefaniak: Did he arrest you?

MR BERRY: No, but I went close, I reckon. I did not see a friendly face like that of Mr Rugendyke.

Mr Rugendyke: Where were you? Were you in Woden somewhere?

MR BERRY: I was over there somewhere. No work has been done on the impact of this scheme on local schools. We have a very proud and well planned system of neighbourhood schools and it is something that the community wants to hang on to. The economic rationalists do not like it very much, but the community wants to hang on to it. There has been no impact statement in relation to this scheme.

I am glad that Mr Moore has just strolled back into the room, because he has been a great defender of neighbourhood schools. He strolled out as soon as I spotted him. He has been a great defender of neighbourhood schools in the past. I wonder how he feels about the impact that this scheme might have on neighbourhood schools, especially primary schools, because he has a soft spot for primary schools, and preschools, especially if they are close to where you live. I wonder how Mr Moore feels. We all know what is going to happen here. The community is going to be abandoned by the three Independents. They have stated principles about these issues which sound good. It really does sound nice to hear them say, "I support the education system. I support my neighbourhood schools. I want to see more money being put into schools. I want to see help for students. I want to see smaller class sizes." It just rolls off the tongue easily and it is warmly received. It is the right sort of stuff to say out in the community, which loves it, but you have to produce the goods to be believed. We are saying that these people are not to be believed.

I was just reminded about a campaign which was launched yesterday by the school community. I have drawn attention to it in this place and it will now be there for historians to read. This campaign, which will run between now and the next election, is about saying that spending an extra $27 million in our schools over the next four years would provide 60,000 students with further class size reductions, which Mr Rugendyke would like; support for student welfare and counselling, which Mr Rugendyke would like; and support for students with disabilities.

Mr Rugendyke: I will support you on that.

MR BERRY: Are you going to support me now?

Mr Rugendyke: I will support you next year, yes.

MR BERRY: No, this year.

Mr Rugendyke: No. Do it next year and I will support you.

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