Page 1383 - Week 04 - Thursday, 26 March 2009
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Mr Speaker, since I announced plans to slash red tape by ensuring all schools can get their share of the $230 million under federal Labor’s stimulus package, we have seen a range of responses. Initially, the Liberals welcomed the package and then shunned it. At the same time they call for red tape to be cut for major commercial developments but refuse to back my plan to cut red tape for schools. The Greens initially rejected the idea of cutting red tape to allow investment in schools but, happily, more recently have indicated their support.
With all the confusing messages, we do need to bring about certainty. We need to give construction businesses in Canberra the confidence that will see them keep their apprentices and continue to invest in their businesses. The only way to do this is to assure them that the $230 million worth of funding in ACT schools is in the pipeline and that the work will be able to commence. The only way to do this is to support ACT Labor’s plan to cut red tape at schools. I look forward, from the public statements, to the unanimous support of the Assembly today.
The Greens have indicated their support for this regulation, but they and the Liberals have six sitting days to knock it off. This regulation is now in effect, and schools are able to take advantage of it. We hope, of course, that there will be support for this regulation today by not voting for a disallowance. It is the only way to bring certainty to schools.
Mr Seselja: You’re asking us to not support your motion?
MR BARR: I am seeking support, Mr Seselja, for Labor’s plan to cut red tape. So in order to bring certainty, I am taking the unusual step of bringing on this disallowance motion in order to allow the Liberals and Greens to join with Labor in voting it down. Voting this disallowance motion down will send a clear signal that the Liberals and Greens will now join with Labor in supporting this investment in education. And maybe they can now give a genuine commitment. Can they walk the talk, Mr Speaker? That will be the question.
Since this election all we have seen from the opposition is opposition for opposition’s sake—their opposition to our plan to allow investment in education. They have reported their support for the government’s plan, but it was a whimper in the Canberra Times. There was not a particularly warm statement of support, it would be fair to say. But today they can do something positive. They can join with Labor and vote for a plan, in rejecting this matter, to ensure that $230 million worth of investment can occur.
The need to bring on this disallowance motion is worth noting. With respect to round 1 of the commonwealth’s funding under the national school pride program—investment in schools—applications closed early this week, on 24 March. The ACT government has now signed a bilateral agreement with the commonwealth and the first money will flow, we understand, from the commonwealth on 7 April. Sixty per cent of ACT schools will benefit in this opening round.
Round 2 applications close on 8 May. On 10 April, round 1 of the primary schools for the 21st century program kicks off, with 20 per cent of ACT schools being able to
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