Page 621 - Week 02 - Thursday, 14 February 2013
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and enrolment pressures in surrounding schools. The delivery model for Bonner and Franklin was based on requirements relating to these and has been successful.
I also want to acknowledge that the Franklin Early Childhood School, the 120-childcare place there, is being run by Anglicare. It opened a short while before the official start of term 1 of this year. It is a wonderful centre and I want to congratulate Anglicare on establishing that new service there.
We also continue to invest in and enhance existing schools. For example, there is funding towards the Majura Primary School to be extended to accommodate appropriately 590 students. Macgregor school has additional investment to support growth in that area, as does Duffy school. All in all, the ACT government responds well in recognising that school education is probably one of the single great investments we have in our children’s future.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, is it your intention to keep up this important work on early childhood education for the full term of this Assembly?
MS BURCH: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I do thank the member for Brindabella for his question. I can guarantee that I will absolutely ensure that I will stay the full term of this Assembly, right through to the election in October 2016, as I would expect my fellow Labor member for Brindabella, Mick Gentleman, to do as well.
That is in stark contrast to other members for Brindabella who refuse to stay the distance. The work got too hard. The thought of sitting with that bunch over there for another four years—I must admit I can sympathise with that. Sitting with that motley bunch over there—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Sit down, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: for another four years would bring me to despair as well.
MADAM SPEAKER: Sit down, Ms Burch. Ms Burch, you do not refer to members of the Legislative Assembly either singularly or collectively as a motley bunch. There are ways of referring to members of the Legislative Assembly and that is not one of them. Have you finished answering the question?
MS BURCH: The opposition, then.
MADAM SPEAKER: “The opposition” is actually the way you refer to members that sit on that side of the chamber and you should be perfectly aware that that is the way in which we address members in this place.
Ms Gallagher: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
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