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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 24 ..

MR PRATT (continuing):

I mentioned before that we live in a lucky country. Indeed, here in Canberra, we live in one of the freest and most beautiful cities in this world. In addition, we live in a country of whose history, democratic traditions and vibrant multicultural society we can be proud. I believe, in terms of our children's education and media perceptions, that it is imperative we emphasise the positives of our nation's history.

To that end, I decry the black armband view of our history, and the bleatings of a vocal elite proclaiming, "Shame to be Australian". I, and the majority of Australians, are heartily tired of this take on our nation's history. We are concerned about the misrepresentation of our history, and its effect on the perceptions of our children, and those of future generations.

As someone who has worked with the war ravaged, the homeless and the destitute, and with those who have seen their homelands overcome by some immense and implacable catastrophes, such as war, famine and other natural disasters, I am determined that such hopelessness and defeat will never be suffered by Australians. In the words of that great Australian poet, Mary Gilmore:

Paradoxically, the answer does not lie in maximising our defence capabilities, vital to our national security though they may be. The best defence of a nation used to be its soldiers. Today, as shadow minister for education, I believe the answer lies in giving young Australians the best, most comprehensive education that we, as a nation, can afford. Our most important asset is our youth, and in their hands lies the future and integrity of our nation. As reported this week by the OECD survey, the ACT has one of the best education systems in the world, the legacy of the formal Liberal government.

It is my job to defend the current ACT education capability and ensure that it is not eroded. More importantly, however, it is to move on and encourage upgrades in the ACT system aimed at meeting the needs and aspirations of the ACT community now and in the future. Our current system of schooling could provide better customer satisfaction, otherwise parents would not be demonstrating their increasing lack of faith in public education by voting with their feet and enrolling their children in non-government schools.

More children are enrolled in non-government schools than ever before, while enrolments in state schools have stagnated. This is not a reflection on the ACT: it is part of a nationwide trend, and the reason for it must be addressed. The government system must be reinforced.

However, for now we must also acknowledge this movement to non-government schools and we must accommodate that trend as well. We must see the non-government sector as an important component of the overall ACT education system. Parents' decisions to send children to non-government schools often means considerable financial sacrifices. Students in non-government schools are not entitled to the same level of taxpayer-funded financial support as their peers in government schools.

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