Page 3724 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 26 August 2009

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students with a disability should be included according to the principles of the Human Rights Act 2004. What the minister has failed to articulate each time we have debated this issue is that the terms of reference of the special education review also include “provide advice on future options for the provision of special education services in the ACT”.

How can the minister stand here in this place and, as bold as brass, continue making the wild assertions that what I really meant was that the government should take over non-government schools? He said that over and over again in question time yesterday. Minister Barr, you must have been inside my head when I made that statement because you know best what I meant to say. I categorically state now, for the umpteenth time, that that is most certainly not what I said, nor was it my intention.

For the record, I have made my intentions and my thoughts very clear to the non-government sector, and there was no confusion on their part. In fact, the only person who is continuing with this red herring is Minister Barr. The real problem is that he was forced to change his mind and include non-government schools in the review. This is his way of trying to punish me for having made my point clear. I call on all my colleagues in this place to ensure that Minister Barr does not continue this pattern of behaviour. We must stop this pattern and ensure the integrity of this place for future activities.

Question put:

That Mr Doszpot’s motion, as amended, be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 10

Noes 7

Ms Bresnan

Ms Hunter

Mr Barr

Ms Porter

Mr Coe

Ms Le Couteur

Ms Burch

Mr Stanhope

Mr Doszpot

Mr Rattenbury

Mr Corbell

Mrs Dunne

Mr Seselja

Ms Gallagher

Mr Hanson

Mr Smyth

Mr Hargreaves

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Department of Territory and Municipal Services—strategic budget review

Debate resumed.

MR SESELJA (Molonglo) (4.11): I thank my colleague Mr Coe for bringing forward this very important motion. The first thing that needs to be said at the outset is that, having had dealings with staff from TAMS over the years, I have known most of them to deal with me in a highly professional manner and to discharge their responsibilities well. Most, if not all, of those I have had dealings with have left me with a good impression. That said, what this report does is to actually criticise in quite a significant fashion some of the overall management of TAMS, particularly the financial management of TAMS. In the end, that is the responsibility of the minister.

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