Page 4677 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 October 2010
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Mr Barr: They are not my unions, though.
MR DOSZPOT: It is from the Education Union, Mr Barr, and I think you represent education. The process is further made dubious with the DET chief executive stating quite heatedly, in a radio interview regarding the legitimacy of the concerns felt by parents, “But I have described the process for you twice now, the process would have been had it not been in the public domain that we would have finalised the papers today.”
The efficiency dividend review consultation paper noted three consultation phases: branch discussions and development of proposals; a draft paper outlining proposals, staff and union feedback; and a final proposal outlined, transfer opportunities, formal consultations with unions for individual staff. However, there was no mention of public consultations in the review or in any media statements until the public school community raised concerns over the whole consultation process. Can you blame the parents and the community groups for thinking that this was a fait accompli? I think not. And they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
The first page of the government’s consultation paper states that “the department will work together with staff and stakeholders”. As such, the consultation should have considered parents and community groups in the consultation process. Considering that Minister Barr flagged cuts as early as the estimates hearings in May this year, clearly a fair and up-front consultation process could have been developed. Simply put, the school community has the right to know what is being planned. The present process has not been clearly articulated up front, which has caused the present angst and stress for parents and teachers alike.
This is truly regrettable. The consultation document became public for a reason, and the reason is encapsulated in this motion. The fact that the Canberra Liberals had to conduct a community forum on behalf of this government to allow people to voice their fears and concerns says much about this minister’s amateur time management of this issue. As such, given the rich feedback and unanimous agreement on this motion, as a result of the recent community consultations, this motion is our community’s gain.
It is acutely unfortunate that, due to ACT Labor’s addiction to spending and the minister’s wholesale buying in of the—to quote the minister—“many powerful reform currents in the contemporary Australian education debate”, fundamental portfolios like education and vital support services are the first to experience dividend cuts and be seen as a burden to the public purse.
In this context, and referring to the government’s strategic plan titled Everyone matters, one must question whether this is a sincere sentiment in light of the proposed cuts. And how do the recent developments underpin the government’s foundation principles of excellence, accountability and fairness stated in its Excellence in disability education in the ACT public schools—strategic plan? Has Minister Barr’s addiction to PR spin leached into the government; hence our most vulnerable students and their parents get nothing more than warm and fuzzy motherhood statements while the government wants to cut education support services? It was not long ago that a
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