Page 1094 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 2013
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been waiting a long time for this change. I look forward to playing my part as the NDIS helps transform the lives of those valuable people in our community, those that are living with a disability.
No discussion about the future of Canberra could be complete without a discussion of the transformational impact of education. There can be nothing more powerful in transforming a society, and indeed a city, where high quality education to every citizen is offered. Providing education not only provides better economic outcomes to society and to the individual; equally, it produces healthier, longer-lived and happier people. Education is a great leveller. It empowers people from all walks of life to make the choices to fulfil their dreams, rather than have a future thrust upon them due to disadvantage.
It is my view, the Labor view and certainly the view of this government, that regardless of the circumstances of your birth, whether you are born from the wealthiest of families or the most disadvantaged, you get the same opportunities through education and in life. That is why this government has invested in education at historic levels.
Since coming to government we have made historic investments in school infrastructure to build modern and innovative schools, such as the Ngunnawal school, the Amaroo School, Kingsford Smith School, the Neville Bonner Primary School, the Franklin Early Childhood School, just to name a few. We have also upgraded existing schools, such as Calwell primary, Red Hill primary and Torrens primary. This infrastructure is providing schools for the 21st century, ensuring that kids get the best classrooms and the best teachers to gain the knowledge and skills that they need in a modern world.
An equally important change underway is designing a school funding model based on need. I am very pleased to work with my commonwealth colleagues, who share our views, on the ambitious project to reshape education for the 21st century. We are committed to deliver on needs based funding for schools, whatever the outcome of the national reforms. That is an important element of the parliamentary agreement. We are committed and we show the leadership that is necessary to bring these education reforms to the territory and to ensure that education reaches every corner of our society and transforms people’s lives for the better.
We have already led the nation in instituting the Australian curriculum. We have already provided very generous funding for teacher and principal pay increases and additional support for beginning teachers. We have made commitments for teacher training and improved teacher performance management. We have established the Teacher Quality Institute. We have also shown that we understand that an investment in education is an investment in our future and an investment in our children. We have shown that education changes people’s lives for the better and we will continue to invest in these endeavours and enterprises that can only enhance our community.
In closing, I would again like to thank Dr Bourke for this motion that notes the success and the overwhelming civic pride for which our community has celebrated the Canberra centenary. We need to ensure that we continue to build on these
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