Page 4839 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 11 November 2009
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MR BARR: Yes, there is a great deal of interest in the community about this range of new proposals. I believe the appetite for change is real, but there does appear to be one community group that does not agree. The Liberal Party appear to even oppose the conversation, let alone any improvement or reform. If WIN News are to be believed, and I certainly trust them, then the ACT Liberals now believe that the school system is working fine under this government. Mr Doszpot participated in a news story that was run on WIN on Friday night. In the introduction to the story the newsreader said:
The Opposition wants to know why Andrew Barr wants to make considerable changes to the current college system, when new figures show local students topped the national class in reading and writing.
The journalist went on to say:
The Liberals say it is a case of Murphy’s law—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Then Mr Doszpot asked:
Do we need to make wholesale changes as the government has suggested, a la the polytechnic solution?
Let me put it this way: Mr Doszpot is half right—I will give him credit here; it is a 50 per cent improvement on his usual ranting. So, yes, the overall system is performing very well, but, no, that does not prove that change is therefore bad. What it shows is that Labor’s reforms in education worked; it shows that this government was right to make hard decisions in 2006 and it shows the government is right to continue to push change and reform today. I only hope that the opposition realise that, in changing times, standing still means going backwards.
Mr Stanhope: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Supplementary answer to question without notice
WorkCover
MR CORBELL: Further to a question Ms Bresnan asked me in question time about the review of capability and capacity of WorkCover, I confirm that I have asked Ms Jenny Dempsey, a former senior New South Wales WorkCover executive who is currently providing consulting services for the New South Wales government, to conduct that review. I will table a copy of the terms of reference as soon as possible.
Canberra Hospital—tuberculosis exposure
Debate resumed.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Health and Minister for Industrial Relations) (3.02): I have an amendment to move, which I am just looking for. Perhaps my office can get me the amendment that I am
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