Page 186 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 26 February 2014
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MS PORTER: Minister, how has the Taylor Primary School community responded to the new facilities?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Porter for her question. The successful relocation to Namadgi School from Taylor and then the move back to Taylor this year were possible because of the strength and the resilience of the Taylor community and the professionalism and the high level of communication from the school principal and staff.
The school has experienced unwavering support to rebuild the community school. The principal, Simon Smith, advised me that the community has been extremely positive in responding to the new facilities, with over 600 members of the community attending the community open day on Saturday, 1 February. Whilst I was on leave at the time, I could not resist the opportunity to go in and be part of that community. I saw Mr Gentleman there as well, and I think he would attest that it is a fabulous new school. It is virtually a new school and I commend the architects and the builders for the work that they have done. Many of the Canberra families have commented on the landscaped grounds and the inclusion of the preschool in the mainstream primary school. Parents have also commented on how quickly the students have settled back in to the new classroom spaces. Parents and students are very impressed with the inviting spaces at the rebuilt school.
Taylor Primary School has a positive, inclusive culture which the community highly values. The teachers were equally impressed with their new teachers space. I think the enthusiasm and the regard that the community held for Taylor was reinforced on that community open day. Families, students and teachers alike are looking forward to this year.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, in your summary of schools where there have been various levels of refurbishment, was it deemed appropriate or necessary for any of these schools to have any air conditioning?
MS BURCH: I do not believe so. We have a principle of making sure that we have appropriate building design in the new schools. Where there are refurbishments we certainly have an eye to environmental design. That takes matters of climate control in schools into account.
Hospitals—performance
MS LAWDER: My question is to the Minister for Health. This week the AMA released its 2014 report card on Australian public hospitals. Canberra’s public hospitals got an f for fail. Canberra public hospitals had the fewest patients seen on time in the emergency department and, when they were seen, the lowest number completing their treatment on time. Canberrans had the longest wait time for elective surgery and lowest seen within recommended times. Canberra public hospitals had the lowest targets for improvement, in short, the worst public hospital results in the country. Minister, how much longer will Canberrans have to have public hospitals that record the worst results in the country?
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