Page 3123 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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I recently had the opportunity to go to Taylor primary school for their music festival which they put on every year. In fact Taylor preschool was my preschool. So I have a particular fondness for that area. It is where I spent my very early years. The distinctive legoland school there at Taylor certainly does stand out. The Taylor primary school music festival is one that I think really does stand out as a unique fundraiser. I know that a number of MLAs go along there and present and get behind it. It is certainly very well received in the community. You often get feedback about when you appear there at Taylor primary school.
Likewise, places like Calwell high, Gilmore primary, Caroline Chisholm, Amaroo school and Melrose high, I think, are making a good contribution. I think that they feel that if they were given that little bit better support, they could do an even better job, if some of those issues which are creeping into some of our schools could be dealt with, some of those discipline issues.
We very strongly believe in the power of principals. That is why we pushed very hard for principals in the government system to have the same autonomy as principals in the non-government system. We were thwarted, but we did push for a better deal than was on the table and we were very pleased that we were able to do that. It is unfortunate when kids get suspended, but unfortunately sometimes it is necessary and it is necessary that principals can act swiftly to deal with those kids who are causing trouble so that they can help those kids but also particularly help all of the other kids to have a positive learning environment and a safe learning environment. We are big believers in it.
Unlike those opposite and the Greens, we also happen to support that other sector in our school community, the non-government sector. We are very strong believers in choice in education and we are the only party in this Assembly that believes in that. No-one really believes that the Labor Party or the Greens believe in that. I think the Greens are, on record, a little more honest about their lack of regard for the non-government sector. The Labor Party tries to walk both sides of the street on this one. When they are at a conference they vote for pretty hostile motions condemning non-government schools. The Chief Minister voted for a motion which was effectively calling non-government schools divisive.
Mr Hanson: Shame!
MR SESELJA: I think that that was a shameful motion.
Ms Porter: Relevance!
MR SESELJA: It is very relevant. It is very relevant because it feeds into government policy. I know Ms Porter is sensitive on it. Ms Porter may have voted the right way on that one; I do not know. She might tell us whether she was one of roughly half the Labor Party who voted against that. But the Labor Party is hostile to non-government schools. The Chief Minister was one of those, and Mr Corbell was one of those, who voted for a motion that condemned non-government schools.
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