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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (2 April) . . Page.. 1223 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

department simply, it would seem, because they are centred outside the mythical "school gate". This government's promise to ensure that the "school bus money"would all be spent inside the non-existent "school gate"was somewhat unfortunate.

I am looking forward to seeing the government's response to this inquiry. I trust that it will address all the issues raised in the report and put to bed once and for all the funding uncertainties, particularly as they apply to non-government schools. Furthermore, I would hope that government will take the opportunity to sketch out how this report and previous reports from Assembly committees that I have chaired-for example, the inquiry into kids and young adults at risk and the inquiry into educational services for children with disability-can inform the next steps in shaping our public education system. I would appreciate from Ms Gallagher a reassurance that there is going to be a full government response to this report.

MR CORNWELL (11.52): Dear me. We hear about the politics of equality, the politics of egalitarianism and, most importantly, the politics of envy. Tell me, Ms Tucker: I have just listened to your diatribe against the non-government sector-

Ms Tucker: Mr Speaker, a point of order. Mr Cornwell should know he should address the chair. Could you point that out to him.

MR SPEAKER: I am sure Mr Cornwell is aware of that. Mr Cornwell, address the chair.

MR CORNWELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Ms Tucker, I listened in silence to your comments, and I simply ask you this question-

Ms Tucker: No, ask the chair.

MR SPEAKER: Direct your comments through the chair.

MR CORNWELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have listened to Ms Tucker in silence and I just ask her this question, sir, through the chair of course: how come the attendance at non-government schools has risen to 38 per cent of the school population with 44 per cent in the years 7 to 10 area? I would think that probably indicates that choice and diversity in this city are not only alive and well but are welcomed by parents in the ACT. Therefore, I would suggest that all of the comments that are being made by the government, by the crossbenchers, simply reinforce my colleague Mr Pratt's concern about the Connors report, that the schools in the non-government sector of education in this city have every cause to be very worried about their future.

I have known Ms Connors for some considerable time. At one stage I served with her on the old ACT Schools Authority. It is unquestionable, as my colleague Mr Pratt said, that Ms Connors is an advocate of public schooling. She always has been. I am talking of 20-odd years ago but she has not changed her mind at all. Therefore, it came as no surprise that when she was appointed to conduct this inquiry there was every cause for the non-government sector in the ACT to be concerned and to expect something of a bucketing. Indeed, they have received it.

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