Page 4703 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 October 2010
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Question so resolved in the affirmative.
Amendment agreed to.
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (11.43): I stand to close this debate. I thank all participants in the debate. I must note that one of the glaring absentees during this debate has finally favoured us with her presence. The minister for disability is here finally but she has not said one word regarding one of the most heated debates we have had here for quite a while on community issues that we are representing. I find it quite incredible that this situation should have led to this minister appearing now but not taking any part in the debate that we had regarding this motion, regarding the issues surrounding children with special needs and disabilities. Thank you very much, Minister Burch. And I am sure the disability community thanks you for your efforts as well.
I do not think there are too many things that are left to be said, apart from underlining the fact that what you, Ms Hunter, through you, Madam Deputy Speaker, are talking about with your amendment is just acquiescing to the government’s activities even though you have lightly tapped them on the wrist. “They should have done more. They should have done this. All in all, we are willing to go along with what the government is doing and the cuts. They have to come. That is the situation.”
We have tried to put a moratorium on the couch. We have tried to put in place, through our motion, the ability for further consultation to arrive at a fair and equitable outcome. That obviously is going to be a lot harder now because of the way the Greens have amended our motion. Obviously, they do not support our motion.
The proposed cuts, 40 proposed reductions in departmental branches with support and student responsibilities, go ahead now, as opposed to the 11.5 per cent proposed cuts in departmental branches with non-support responsibilities. If that seems to be a fair and equitable way of looking at addressing the cuts that need to be made within education then I think there are some serious issues that still need to be debated.
Almost everyone has contributed and I thank them for their contributions. I now commend the motion that we brought before this Assembly. The Greens have one further opportunity to reconsider. I am asking for the support of the Greens for our motion to be carried so that there could be some accountancy of this government for the way that they are doing things. But our third party, the community’s third party, insurance is proving once again that the small print within the election promises and the election accounting by the third party was third party insurance for the government.
Motion, as amended, agreed to.
Planning—draft variations Nos 301 and 303
MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (11.47): I rise today to talk about a subject that is very dear to my—
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