Page 3766 - Week 12 - Thursday, 22 November 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
complex at Lyneham high school to support the thriving performing arts program at that school.
The federal Labor Party has promised a solar schools plan which will allow schools to apply for grants of up to $20,000 for solar panels on schools, and a further $30,000 to install water efficiency programs. This investment will complement the ACT government’s own sustainable schools program. Already, the ACT government has funded water audits in 24 schools to help them identify water savings in their school grounds and buildings. Of course, under our climate change strategy, we have embarked on a major retrofit of our public schools. With money from the second appropriation bill, we will install Comtrol irrigation systems in another 15 schools, taking the total to 32, while $600,000 has been earmarked for wholesale repairs and upgrades to irrigation systems at other schools.
The schools of the 21st century are very different from those of the last century. The tools and techniques used to teach children are different from what they were 30 years ago. Information technology is utilised now more than ever in workplaces and in our schools, both as a subject to be studied and as a teaching and learning tool. The Stanhope government has continued its commitment to provide and maintain state-of-the-art information technology in ACT schools with a $20 million investment over the next four years for IT in schools.
The smart schools smart students initiative being rolled out in the ACT is already providing ACT students with access to broadband internet, electronic whiteboards and the latest in computers. The federal Labor Party’s promise is to allow schools to apply for grants of up to $1 million out of a national secondary schools computer fund for information and communication technology upgrades. Again, ACT schools will be in a good position to utilise this extra funding from a federal Labor government, to build on the record funding that my government is providing for IT in education.
The federal Labor Party has also promised to invest strongly in the area of vocational education and training through initiatives including capital upgrades to vocational education and training in schools, or through the Skilling Australia initiative, which promises an additional 450,000 skilled training places over four years. This would support the work that the ACT has been doing to satisfy the demand for vocational education and training. In the 2007-08 budget, we committed an additional $6 million over four years to meet emerging needs.
A national comparison of apprenticeship and trainee activity for the year ending 30 September 2006 showed that the ACT has increased the number of commencements in apprenticeships and traineeships by 10 per cent. The ACT leads the country in the percentage increase for commencements at certificate IV level. Our young people are completing their apprenticeships and traineeships at a higher rate than elsewhere in Australia. We welcome the prospect of real investment in this area from a future federal Labor government.
If there is one area of policy and philosophy that truly and starkly distinguishes the parties that will ask for the support of voters on Saturday, it is industrial relations. The election of a Rudd Labor government will be welcomed by Australia’s working
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .