Page 818 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 2 April 2008

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At the end of the day, these moneys are the people’s money; they are not the government’s money. They are the funds provided by the people, many of whom are struggling to pay their way. We have got a raft of interest rate increases in Canberra. People are seeing those charges go up; credit card debt is high; there is a growth in the number of foreclosures on homes. Whilst we have prospered and performed in a much healthier fashion than other parts of Australia, it is very evident, if you look at some of the indicators, that there are many households now that are quite stretched financially. This would be an opportunity where we can extend some relief to those households. It also, of course, is another consideration for those who are investing in property.

This is an area, of course, where the government has a responsibility to try to encourage at least a competitive environment for the investment in the provision of housing for our community from the private sector. Mr Speaker, I conclude with those remarks and I commend this bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell) adjourned to the next sitting.

Schools—closures

MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.49): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

(a) that the Towards 2020 program has failed to have an impact on the drift of students away from the ACT Government system; and

(b) the extensive disruption to local communities and the education system by the Towards 2020 program;

(2) calls on the ACT Government to join the Canberra Liberals and school communities in supporting:

(a) the cancellation of school closures and restructures planned for December 2008 other than those associated with the opening of a new school in West Belconnen in 2009;

(b) the establishment of a school reinstatement fund to help re-open schools closed by the Stanhope Government in 2006 and 2007;

(d) the establishment of a Community Committee on the Future Direction of ACT Schools; and

(3) calls on the Minister for Education and Training to table all documents associated with the decisions to close schools made in 2006 including the relevant sections of the Functional Review of the ACT Budget.

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