Page 2790 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
spent. I refer to security upgrades—fences, for example, and security sensors at Red Hill, Macgregor, Maribyrnong, Fraser and Wanniassa schools. There are also rooftop programs at Curtin and Chapman. At Canberra College, there is a lift program, and at Macquarie primary there is a staffroom upgrade. There are school frontages and landscaping at Lyneham high, Namadgi School, Hawker primary, Farrer primary and Lake Ginninderra College. In 2013-14 over $3 million was spent across those lines.
So far we have also increased the number of solar panels. Indeed we now have every public school with solar initiatives and we are about increasing and enhancing that capacity. When we look at the new school that will go into the new, growing suburb of Molonglo, that will have the largest solar panel in our schools, at 100 kilowatts. We have smart meters across our schools for water and electricity. So not only are they benefiting from renewable energy but they are also able to track their use, use it as science, maths and lifelong learning within our schools and invest that saving in their school in ongoing improvements.
We made mention of teacher quality. Again I remind members that the TEMAG report looked to the ACT and showcased the initiatives that we have had in this place for a number of years, and in which we lead the nation. Also, in the last week I had the absolute pleasure of standing with the independent schools and the Catholic education system and signing an MOU—the first of its kind in this jurisdiction. That showed the partnership between all our sectors. We, as one—public, Catholic and independent—will sign an annual assurance statement that assures the community they are compliant with all the necessary laws and regulations.
Also, for the very first time, we have an agreed and shared understanding and definition of critical incidents. Our Catholic schools and our independent schools will provide a six-monthly update to me on critical incidents. That is the first time ever that we have reached that agreement, and it has been reached under my leadership and I am very pleased about that.
In closing I must respond to Mr Doszpot’s continued reference to an incident that happened in one of our schools—Mr Doszpot knows that I briefed him on this—around what I considered to be an inappropriate structure within a school. When it came to my attention, I was the one that brought it into the public arena. I did say at the time that I wanted to get to the bottom of it, and I set up two inquiries. One is an expert panel comprising Professor Tony Shaddock, the Children and Young People Commissioner and an eminent Canberra paediatric clinician. They are coming to the end of their public submissions and I know that they will meet in a very tight time line and then come to me.
On another matter, Mr Doszpot continues to go on as if I were deliberately hiding information from the community. The director-general has been very clear about this inquiry. This is an HR inquiry. It is part of the EBA. Mr Doszpot, you have family members in the teaching community. Mr Doszpot—and I note that you are in the chair at the moment, Mr Assistant Speaker—how would you feel if someone was seeking to acquire the internal ins and outs of an HR review of someone in your family? These are matters of importance to the system but they are also important matters to the people involved.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video