Page 1205 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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MR SPEAKER: Order! Direct your comments through the chair.
MR BARR: Through the Non-Government Schools Education Council, I discussed my desire for us to have a look across the education sectors at the quality of physical education programs. I said—I stated this very clearly, and I state it now for the Assembly—that the non-government schools, in a number of instances, have better programs than what is on offer in public schools. I said that I was interested in looking at some of their programs to see if they could be more broadly applied.
Through the collaborative process for the new curriculum framework, which has involved the Catholic Education Office as one of the major players in this curriculum renewal process, we have a renewed focus on physical education in schools. This has been a major part of the process that Ms Gallagher began back in 2003. Consultation around physical education in schools and the issue of drought and how we will respond across the board—
Mr Smyth: That is not what I said. I talked about ovals.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Smyth.
MR BARR: —has been the subject of ongoing conversations. We have talked about school sport. We have talked about the Pacific School Games and a range of options and opportunities that are coming forward for both the government and non-government school sectors.
In relation to the concerns that have been expressed by the Catholic Education Office through Mr Smyth—alleged concerns; they are yet to directly contact me—I will take the matter at face value. I perhaps should not. I am being generous in taking the concerns that Mr Smyth says are there as genuine. I will take it that they are. We will continue, as we have today. If Mr Smyth had been there—which he was not—in time to see the process of consultation that is occurring over the next six to eight weeks around the specific issue of stage 4 restrictions, he would have seen that there is an extensive process that will involve all of the key stakeholders.
Once again, for the sake of some relevance, to try to catch up in this debate, Mr Smyth recently showed concern about the sporting community—concern never before seen. Suddenly this morning on radio—
Mr Smyth: Not true.
MR SPEAKER: I warn you, Mr Smyth. There are not many left to go now.
MR BARR: He determines that there is a climate of fear and that the world is about to end. Utter rubbish!
Mr Stefaniak: There is a climate of fear.
MR BARR: There has been an extensive consultation process. There will continue to be. These issues about the drought have been front and centre for the Australian population for years. For Mr Smyth to say that no-one knew that—
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