Page 3278 - Week 10 - Thursday, 25 September 2014
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Over the last 10 years the government has spent, or budgeted to spend, more than $800 million on capital works in the Education and Training portfolio. If you add the building the education revolution, that comes to over $900 million. Each year the government allocates $20 million for repairs and maintenance. The funds are used for front entry upgrades for our schools, security and older schools upgrades. Over the past few years the government has spent over $6 million on expansion and upgrades.
In closing, I will go back to school priorities. Mr Smyth made mention of some comments through estimates around the health and wellbeing of our young people. In this place today on the question of chaplains I have been trying to advocate for all schools to have the choice of support that they want. The Canberra Liberals have clearly set a position that I should not be supporting and fighting in every way I can to allow schools to have chaplains and secular workers. If Mr Smyth wants to care for children then he should be supporting me and asking the federal government to have regard and respect for our schools.
On higher education, Mr Smyth seems to forget that the federal government is looking to increase fees that will disproportionately affect students from disadvantaged backgrounds and women. In an interview I heard Mr Pyne actually say, “We’re not asking a lot. We’re not asking them to donate their left kidney.” That is the narrative from the federal Minister for Education that those opposite are seeking to support. That is the tone that he puts in the debate for children who are aspiring to get a tertiary education.
Our schools provide a good service to the community. We rank well on any measure. We have seen a positive growth in enrolments in our schools over the last decade. Our school numbers sit at over 42,200 students, and I think that is a good thing. (Time expired)
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (4.38): As we see a theme developing here this week, it is worth noting that this week’s matters of public importance are aligning well with the recent cabinet announcements of health, education and public transport including light rail, and the Mr Fluffy situation, as being the utmost priorities for government. The opportunities to discuss these matters in this section of the sitting program this week have reinforced that. The MPIs give us all a chance to discuss our views on a range of issues but, unfortunately, when it comes to our colleagues across the chamber, more and more we are seeing them turn into quasi-motions with a focus on criticism. They do it in a regular way with no alternative solutions and no ideas on what should be done differently; it is simply a stump speech on whatever the issue of the day is.
Be that as it may, I will talk to education as a priority and a matter of importance to the ACT Greens, to the government and to the broader community. The ACT Greens believe that a high-quality, free and equitable education is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy and is fundamental to Australia’s continued prosperity. We understand that learning is a lifelong process fostered in both formal education and informal settings from early childhood through adult life and believe that everyone should have equitable access to an education that meets their needs and aspirations and gives them the skills and capacity to participate in society.
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