Page 663 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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schools funding.” Coupled with the Chief Minister’s proposed plans, this apparently will involve slugging families where it hurts them the most: in their wallets.
Then we come to the current ACT education minister, Dr Bourke, who yesterday was not even quite sure whether it was $4 billion or $5 billion. What is a billion, Dr Bourke? When the federal government is spending it the way they are, I guess we cannot blame the local government—or can we?—for misunderstanding one billion out of such an important education budget.
Dr Bourke yesterday during question time talked in a scripted fashion about the essence of the Gonski review but failed to answer any of the eight questions asked of him. I have been waiting for this minister to take the lead on this Gonski review. An example that I should quote is the Victorian education minister, who I will be meeting with next week and who has made the following call on the Gillard government:
Victoria’s Education Minister Martin Dixon called for greater clarity and consultation on the Gonski review to ensure careful consideration is given to any proposed changes to current arrangements and their implications for schools, students and parents.
Mr Dixon, who called on the Gillard Government to guarantee no student or parents would be worse off as a result of the proposed changes, expressed his concern on the lack of details on how the Gillard Government plan to implement the review’s recommendations.
In the absence of any such initiative or leadership from this minister, I have tabled a motion that is here before the Assembly today. To go on with the narrative about what the community is saying about the Gonski review so far, this is what the parents are saying. The ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations president, Mrs Vivienne Pearce, had this to say:
… the decision to a further consultation period—on top of the 7,000 submissions already collected—was another example of ‘all talk and no action.’
We’re really concerned that they haven’t come up with a concrete timeline for when we’re going to see action.
The education of our children is too important to leave for years and years, we need to get serious about it.
Ms Felicity Williams, President of the Canberra Grammar Parents Association, noted:
Education and health are the two areas where the government is really underspending … Our children are the future of this country and education is very important to their success. The government needs to show that it is supportive of education in all sectors, no matter which school the student attends.
Mr Bill Daniels, Executive Director of the Independent Schools Council of Australia, said:
It’s further consultation without commitment. There’s a commitment to a process, but there is no commitment to any outcome.
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