Page 3540 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 15 November 2006
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Just compare that. The New South Wales government is priding itself on its $120 million investment in maintenance upgrades across the entire state, and we have matched it. Our $190 million investment through this last budget would equate in New South Wales—I do not have the sums—to well in excess of a billion dollars. That is the order of the investment which this government is making in education, and most particularly in Belconnen. We have a brand-new K to 10 $45 million school in the heart of the electorate meeting the needs of the residents of Belconnen, and indeed the whole of the ACT.
It is all right for the Liberals. Of course, we know their history in relation to schools. I do not want to get sidetracked here—I will do that perhaps during the next debate—but really it is the height of hypocrisy for Mrs Dunne in particular to come in here and waffle on about abandonment by this government of public education when the policies we are pursuing are word for word the policies her current leader pursued and supported when previously in government. We are doing what the previous government said it would do but could not do, which it did not have the political will or the stamina or the commitment to pursue or undertake or achieve. We are doing it. We are doing it for the sake of public education and we are doing it for the future of the education of our children. We are committed to the education of our children. We have a commitment to public education which we will not walk away from and we will ensure the maintenance of very high standards. In fact, we will improve the standards of education through our commitment, through this proposal, to public education in the territory.
I regret to some extent that I have been diverted from essentially what is a celebration to respond to the very carping and ungracious comments which Mrs Dunne—
Mrs Dunne: They have little to celebrate, courtesy of you.
MR STANHOPE: I imagine that Mrs Dunne is not invited to many celebrations or birthday parties. The expression or term “party pooper” applies to people such as Mrs Dunne—those who are invited to parties and then essentially—
Mr Gentleman: Probably going to Richard’s farewell.
MR STANHOPE: Yes, she will be a bundle of fun at Richard’s farewell. But the expression “party pooper” is personified in the most ungracious and carping remarks which Mrs Dunne has just felt the need to make in a motion designed to celebrate a wonderful community. To the extent that one takes the opportunity to do this during debate on a motion which notes the celebration of a great achievement—namely, the achievement that is the community of Belconnen—it is a reflection really of the level and sincerity of that person’s commitment to what it is that is being celebrated: a fantastic community, the community of Belconnen.
The last thing the people of Belconnen want in a motion designed to celebrate their achievements and their existence is the sort of party-pooping criticism that we have just heard from Mrs Dunne. So, Mrs Dunne, as a significant resident and a leader of the people at Belconnen, you have let them down today in your incredibly ungracious contribution to this debate.
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