Page 4702 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video

---

occasions about various issues. For them to suggest that receiving a briefing from the department is somehow being complicit in some sort of process is just ridiculous. It is about receiving information from the department and asking questions. Then you can choose to do with that information what you will. It is something we all do as members of this place. To suggest somehow that it has made this complicit with some sort of decision-making process is just a ridiculous claim.

I would like to point out that the Greens, through the parliamentary agreement, have actually achieved two key aims in looking at disability support services and what is happening to students who are vulnerable in the education system. That was through the achievement gap inquiry, which has already reported. Students with disability came up as being one of the key groups in that, and that came out in the report. There are recommendations in that which government will be obviously responsible to act on and to respond to.

Most recently we have had a number of hearings of the inquiry into services for students with a disability. That has been a key inquiry and has been looking at a range of disabilities and the services that are required and has provided an opportunity for parents, families, groups, various organisations and the department to come in and look at what are the issues for students with a disability. The committee also went and visited a number of programs in connection with this inquiry.

To say the Greens are somehow not taking into account the issues for students with a disability, again, is a ridiculous claim, given the Greens have succeeded in having these two inquiries before the Assembly. We have provided an opportunity to consider the intricacy, obviously, and the complexity that come with these sorts of issues and have provided an opportunity for a lot of parents to come and tell their stories and to provide submissions. None of this would have happened if the Greens had not put this forward.

Again, I do want to commend Ms Hunter for putting forward these sensible and, I believe, accurate amendments which are calling for what has been one of the key issues in this whole process. The consultation was not conducted in a thorough and appropriate manner. That is what the amendment has and that is what should be supported.

Question put:

That Ms Hunter’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

---

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video