Page 846 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
have heard a number of times. However, there is deathly silence from the opposition benches when it comes to the massive education investment made by the Stanhope government since 2001.
Yes, we have not seen one education policy come out of the Leader of the Opposition’s office since he took over the portfolio in December 2007. I am sure it is an alarming discovery for the people of the ACT that the alternative education minister is a policy-free zone.
The school renewal proposal involves one of the most extensive consultation processes ever undertaken in the ACT. The minister and departmental officials attended over 7,000 public meetings. The process involved responding to more than 1,600 pieces of correspondence and considering 350 written submissions. In contrast, the only substantive consultation which the shadow minister for education undertakes is with his party room to ensure he still has a job.
The government listened to the community and developed a package to see the ACT education system well into the 21st century. The package includes record investment in public education, record investment in information and communication technology and record investment in capital works. Only the Labor Party has the drive and the commitment to invest $350 million in important education infrastructure for our city. We are building new schools in areas where they are needed and improving infrastructure in all public schools.
Every public school community will see the benefits of this extensive investment. Each school community has different needs and, therefore, each and every school will receive different upgrades. These include new classrooms, new dedicated teaching areas, science labs and art rooms, new halls and gymnasiums, new carpet, new painting and new landscaping. All over Canberra, school communities are welcoming this investment and are pleased that the Stanhope government is showing leadership in public education in the ACT. I have noticed that in my own electorate.
The Stanhope government is investing in new schools. In Harrison, the fastest growing suburb of Canberra, there are hundreds of young families seeking out high-quality education and, when they visit the new state-of-the art Harrison school, they are delighted with what they see: the most modern and best-equipped school in Canberra. Harrison school sets a new standard in public education infrastructure in this country. This is a fine example of a school for the 21st century. I think the minister mentioned yesterday the record initial enrolments in that school.
Also in the Gungahlin area, the Stanhope government is investing in a wellbeing precinct that will include a senior secondary school, a Canberra institute of technology facility, a library and a community arts and sports facility. This precinct will be a jewel in the crown of the Gungahlin town centre.
But schools of the 21st century are not only for the new suburbs. The Stanhope government will also be ensuring 21st century facilities are available in older, more established areas of Canberra. A state of the art P-10 school will be opened in west Belconnen in January next year, as we have been discussing a bit earlier, and in
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .