Page 3116 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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The Greens will continue working for our most vulnerable and help create an education system that truly provides an education that enables every student to reach their full potential.
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (11.02): With $849,404,000 directed to education and training funding in the ACT, this portfolio has the second highest allocation of ACT finances, a range of very serious issues to be addressed and some major decisions to be made in how to deliver quality education initiatives for families and schools in Canberra.
During estimates we were fortunate to have departmental officials attend on three days and, given the broad range of programs, there was a lot to cover. How sad then that with Mr Barr, as the responsible minister, we saw yet again his dismissive attitude to so many of the issues that demand a considered approach. We saw the unveiling of glossy brochures yet again.
I know that the minister thinks I am targeting him unfairly. But, minister—through you, Madam Deputy Speaker—the criticisms I raise are those raised by parents of students in the public and private sector. They are criticisms from teachers who think you are not listening. They are complaints from education advocates. I am merely echoing their concerns. If I focus on glossy brochures, it is because there is no policy to address. You continue to use media opportunities as a substitute for real policy and real action.
Even in recent weeks there has been more of the same thought bubble media grabs to divert attention from more serious issues. Why else, without much thought and even less consultation, would the minister want to open a debate about changing school times? Apparently it was to ease traffic congestion. As the Canberra Times suggested, altering school start times rings alarm bells, and there were serious alarm bells throughout the community with this rather thoughtless action.
None of us was at all surprised with the minister delivering, at the eleventh hour, “Excellence and enterprise vision: advancing public schools of distinction”. It was another froth and bubble paper that is designed as a substitute for real policy and leadership. Even the AEU and the Greens members of the committee were sceptical.
The failure that this government cannot escape from is this: Canberra families have voted with their cheque books, taken sons and daughters out of the public school system and moved them into the non-government sector. The Chief Minister and Treasurer’s lack of any reference in her speech to the non-government sector highlights the embarrassing fact that Canberra families have lost confidence in this government. They have lost confidence in this government to deliver consistent policy in respect of public schooling.
Is it any wonder? How many more fights is the minister planning to bring on with the ACT teaching fraternity? Are we to expect more school closures? How many more positions is he likely to take on funding for the special needs areas? How much more hollow rhetoric will we hear about parity for teacher salaries, how many more
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