Page 3803 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 19 September 2018

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video

---

continue her music studies, and she says many of her friends were in the same boat. As this graduate says:

It gave free tuition with world-class teachers which I could never have afforded on my own. And I think it is very important for us to nurture musical talent in the ACT.

This goes to the heart of the real benefits of the H course. Musical skill, even great talent, can be a career, an additional string to a bow, employment and a hobby. If the education minister wants to talk about equity, this is what the H course in music delivered: equity of opportunity for those who otherwise had no chance of that standard of education. If you like, it is the musical equivalent of Chromebook. She was happy to spend $17 million on laptops for students regardless of whether they already had one or what academic benefit would result but will not support a $275,000 spend on music students. Where is the equity? Where is the fairness?

The H course is a world-class education initiative and helps musical proteges a lot. In the words of another graduate:

I know there were students who all they want to do is music. They struggled with other college courses but excelled in the H course due to their passion for music and the world class tuition via the H course.

Two students in my year would have failed at college, but through the H Course, they were able to enter the career they wanted.

It is important that we work to help the advancement of music. Ms Le Couteur’s amendments fall short of doing that, and it is clear she does not quite get it. She spoke about some of the reasons behind the cuts and said that perhaps I did not have all the facts while I was preparing my motion. Yet during her entire speech nothing was made any clearer.

Ultimately the question is this: will the H course continue? If the answer is no, as seems to be the case, then the Canberra Liberals cannot in all good conscience support the amendment.

Question put:

That the amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

---

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video