Page 1799 - Week 05 - Thursday, 10 May 2018
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MR PARTON: Minister, what urban open spaces generally are you planning, intending or considering for sale or for rezoning?
MR GENTLEMAN: Madam Speaker, it is probably appropriate that I respond to that question. I can say that there are indications for land sales on our four-year indicative land release program but not in the urban open spaces, that I am aware of.
MR COE: My supplementary question is to either minister. Will you guarantee there will be no decrease in urban open space in Canberra, as has been Labor Party policy in the past, in keeping with the character of Canberra? In particular, does the government have any plans in Belconnen to develop on PRZ1 or PRZ2 land?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Coe for the supplementary question. We do have a policy of ensuring that we have as much urban open space for recreation and amenity as we possibly can. Particularly in discussions with the minister’s statement of planning intent workshops a couple of years ago, whilst the Canberra community said to us that they would like to see denser living, and less spread of the city’s borders, they do want urban open space alongside those revitalised areas in the city, to ensure they have amenity and places to recreate. We have taken that on board, and that is part of our policy.
Education—gifted and talented students
MISS C BURCH: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, in answer to question on notice 1273 on the number of ACT government schools offering gifted and talented classes and the number of students in those classes, you replied that the ACT Education Directorate does not collect such information. You were also not able to advise how many students are enrolled in those classes or whether the numbers had changed over the past four years. Minister, why do you and your directorate not know this information?
MS BERRY: Because we trust that schools, school principals and schoolteachers will be able to provide appropriate programs for all students, including students that are gifted.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, if basic information on gifted and talented classes is not available, how do you and your directorate provide or plan for appropriate resources to meet the needs of schools in delivering these classes?
MS BERRY: Because the ACT government has respect for and values the work of school principals and schoolteachers within our school communities. They will make arrangements for education programs that suit the needs of every child, no matter what their background, how they learn or the circumstances in which they come to our schools.
MS LAWDER: Minister, do you support ACT government schools offering gifted and talented classes?
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