Page 6135 - Week 14 - Thursday, 9 December 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Rivett, Holt, Chifley and Cook as community hubs housing numerous community groups working in the areas of the services, the arts, education, health and wellbeing.
In February 2009 the Gungahlin police station became a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week service. Emergency services have also been boosted with the creation of an additional six community fire units, with a further six to be established this financial year. In the 2010-11 budget, funding was provided for the establishment of an additional 11 positions in the ACT Ambulance Service.
A great education, as we all know, is the best gift any community can offer its children. In a fast-changing world, education must be a lifelong pursuit, not something left behind with childhood. Over the past two years, the ACT government has delivered better educational outcomes through a range of important initiatives. We are progressively delivering universal access to 15 hours of free preschool each week. In 2009 we started on our five early childhood schools. The scheme expanded in 2010 into another eight schools.
All young Canberrans are now required to remain in education, training or employment until completing year 12 or turning 17. In the 2008-09 and 2009-10 budgets, the government funded more teaching positions to improve teacher to student ratios in all public schools. In 2010 there were the equivalent of 10 additional teachers in primary schools, 50 to the high school sector and 10 to the college sector. The 2009-10 budget allocated $6.4 million of specialist literacy and numeracy teachers and $3.1 million over four years to English-as-a-second-language programs. There are now 21 specialist literacy and numeracy officers in Canberra’s public schools and additional ESL teachers. In 2010, 50 primary schools are offering language programs. From next year it will be every primary school.
An $11.9 million investment was allocated in the 2008-09 budget for capital upgrades of public schools. This was boosted in 2009-10 by $6 million for capital works to support the government’s policy for smaller class sizes. Capital works totalling more than $200 million were delivered at schools in 2009-10, including $25.6 million under the schools infrastructure refurbishment program and $12.2 million under the annual capital upgrades program. Construction work is well advanced on new schools. The $72.4 million Gungahlin college will open at the start of 2011, as will the $56.5 million Kambah school. Construction has begun on the $45 million Harrison secondary school, with a further $2 million allocated in the 2010-11 budget for a larger two-court gymnasium.
Mrs Dunne: We spend a lot of money—such a lot of money. What do we spend on Bimberi?
MR STANHOPE: Mrs Dunne interjects, “Too much money.” She says that we are spending too much money on education.
MR SPEAKER: Members, Mr Hanson was heard in silence, and I expect the Chief Minister to have the same standard.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video