Page 3948 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 5 December 2007
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before. It is true; it is a fact. It does not mean that it is more effective. It does not mean that it will deliver more, and it does not mean that in the end we have a school system that will meet the needs of the students, first and foremost, and the ACT community.
Apart from that, the minister cannot spell. He should correct the word “build” in the last sentence. I think he means “built”. (Time expired.)
MR PRATT (Brindabella) (12.26): I rise today to support the motion put forward by my colleague Mrs Dunne in relation to the school closure program implemented by the government. I have spent a good deal of time in my electorate assisting communities who have suffered as a consequence of the government’s decisions to close schools. I talk in particular about the community around Kambah high school.
I have seen some pretty good things coming out of Kambah high school. Whilst going and working with that community, I saw great things in that school, which clearly the minister did not.
Mr Gentleman: Canberra high is not even in your electorate.
MR PRATT: Kambah high school is in Brindabella. For the record, Mr Gentleman is saying that Kambah high school is not in my electorate. This government is on the ball and its backbenchers are too, I do not think.
Mr Gentleman: I thought you said “Canberra”.
MR PRATT: Unlike my colleague Mr Gentleman, I am eloquent and I did say “Kambah high school”. And it is in my electorate. It is definitely in my electorate, minister. I know a damn sight more than what you lot would know. Not only do you neglect the schools in my electorate, you do not even know where they are.
Mr Barr: You do not even live in your electorate.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Barr, cease interjecting. Mr Pratt, direct your comments through the chair, please, and remain relevant.
MR PRATT: I care about my electorate, minister. I care about my electorate, which is a damn sight more than I can say about this minister and his backbench colleague Mr Gentleman who does not even know where Kambah high school is. No wonder Mr entleman has not been able to fight for Kambah high school. No wonder he has not been able to go to the minister and point out all the qualities of Kambah high school, which I know about. And I am going to talk a little about those qualities.
I had the pleasure of attending Kambah high school’s art extravaganza, with many performances more than capable of taking their place on the street. I talk about the stepping into the limelight program that was run in recent weeks. In fact, my colleague Mr Smyth and I both attended. Did you go there, Mr Gentleman? Minister, did you perhaps turn up there during Kambah high school’s death rattles?
Mr Barr: I said, “Let’s do this event,” and we did.
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