Page 4178 - Week 13 - Thursday, 14 December 2006
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point for this discussion. In 2007 I am going back to the community for further consultation on this proposal.
MR PRATT: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Minister, why did you not list the Kambah super school as an option for consultation in the original Towards 2020 plan, as there has been a proposal around for this for several years now?
MR BARR: Yes, this issue has been discussed at particular points over a number of years. I know it has been strongly opposed by those opposite all throughout the particular debates on the prospect of a new facility in Tuggeranong. One thing is very clear: in this place only one party supports new education facilities for Tuggeranong, and that is the Australian Labor Party. Only one party supports new education facilities: the Australian Labor Party.
We are the only party prepared to invest money in public education. We are prepared to invest it in West Belconnen, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong. We very strongly support the prospect of engaging with the community next year about the design and construction of a new $54 million purpose-built state-of-the-art education facility for the people of Tuggeranong. One party in this chamber will deliver that outcome, and that is the Australian Labor Party.
Schools—closures
MR GENTLEMAN: My question is to the minister for education. Minister, as part of your education package yesterday, you announced a record investment in public education, including a new investment in Tuggeranong. Can you please inform the Assembly of the details of that investment?
MR BARR: I thank Mr Gentleman for his question and for his very strong support.
Mrs Dunne: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think this question has been answered. Mr Pratt has already asked a question about the Tuggeranong P to 10 school, therefore it has been answered.
Mr Stanhope: It was not answered fully. He did not mention the bribe.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Gentleman has asked a separate question. I think Mr Barr is entitled to answer it.
MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank Mr Gentleman for his question and for his strong support of public education in the electorate of Brindabella. It stands in marked contrast to the other members for Brindabella in this place.
The Stanhope government has an excellent record of investment in public education. Since coming to government we have increased spending on education by more than 30 per cent. We will continue to build on that record. As part of Towards 2020: renewing our schools, the government has announced the largest ever single investment in public education in the history of self-government in the ACT. We have committed $90 million for capital upgrades to renew our schools over the next four years.
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