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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Wednesday, 25 August 2004) . . Page.. 4184 ..

MR STEFANIAK: I have just told you. The government gave every indication that it would in fact be built. And what has happened over the last three years? Nothing.

To sum up, people out there in the community are saying that one of the biggest problems with this government is that it is a do-nothing government. There have been umpteen dozen reviews and there has been very little action. We are now starting to see a little bit of action in a couple of areas, right before the government goes into caretaker mode and before the election commences. But it has taken nearly three years for this to happen. Mr Speaker, I do not think that is good enough. The biggest failure of this government is its inaction and I hope that it will be judged accordingly.

Mr Stanhope: Why did you close it down, Bill?

MR SPEAKER: Order, Chief Minister!

MR STEFANIAK: We didn’t actually.

Mr Stanhope: Yes you did. Why did you close it down?

MR SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Stanhope: Why did you create the problem?

MR SPEAKER: Order, Chief Minister!

MS GALLAGHER (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children, Youth and Family Support, Minister for Women and Minister for Industrial Relations) (5.33): This motion, which we oppose, gives the government a great opportunity to list all the achievements that we have delivered since coming to government. Yesterday in question time I went through quite a number of the achievements in education. Just to refresh the memory of members, I will briefly run through them.

The ACT government has had an inquiry into education funding. We have funded curriculum renewal; we have reduced class sizes; and we have passed the Education Act. We committed to spent $27 million of the free school bus bribe inside the school gate and, in fact, we have spent over $36 million.

We have improved, through a variety of programs, participation, retention and outcomes for indigenous students and students at risk. For the first time, students with a disability have individually had an appraisal of their need to participate fully in education. We have improved the legislation around our training system.

Our apprenticeships and trainee numbers are going through the roof. We have funded $9½ million for Skilling ACT and the training pathway guarantee. We have implemented initiatives around promoting healthy lifestyles for students and college health coordinators.

We have an $11 million ICT package to support information and technology in our schools, both in the government and non-government sector. We have increased funding

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