Page 3081 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 17 October 2007

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As Mr Barr said just a little while ago, I accompanied him to the new Melba-Copland secondary college for the unveiling of the new school logo, the announcement of the newly appointed principal, Mr Bob Ross, and the announcement of the significant upgrade to the school at both campuses. I am pleased to say that students from both campuses were present. Their presence, the way they spoke and the way they conducted themselves are all ample proof of the fruits of the implementation of the recommendations of the review. It was obvious from this visit and others that I have had to campuses that our public education is in good health. The value of the government’s initiatives, the government’s investment, was demonstrated over and over again today.

I spoke earlier about the transitional program that is being trialled at two college clusters this year. Today I heard from three young people from the Melba campus and the Copland campus who addressed the value, in their eyes, of the transitional opportunities open to them through this government’s policies and decisions which are responsible for providing their learning environments. Already, as I said, the policy as recommended in the review and outlined in the college plan has borne fruit.

I was proud to be standing there, listening to these young people, seeing how pleased they were and how pleased their fellow students were too, and to see the positive way that this reform is embraced by the staff. When Mrs Dunne says this government is throwing good money after bad, she is letting down all those in our public system big time. I am sure she would rather the hundreds of children at this public secondary college alone just go without the best ICT possible and have poor learning environments. Is that what she wants? Today Mrs Dunne ignores the needs of our students for improvements in their learning environments.

I am disappointed that Dr Foskey is unable to support the motion. I do not intend to read my speech again to reiterate all the points I made about the government’s response and the business plan. I am aware Mrs Dunne was not here this morning. If she wants to move amendments to motions, she should at least try to be here when we talk about them. However, as Mr Barr has pointed out time and time again, Mrs Dunne is not really interested in public education but rather in criticising it. However, I do appreciate Dr Foskey’s interest.

Question put:

That Mrs Dunne’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the negative.

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