Page 1891 - Week 05 - Thursday, 16 May 2019
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to create league tables to seek to damage the reputation of particular schools and particular teachers, and which impact the self-belief and self-worth of many students.
That is not what NAPLAN was designed to do. I recall at the time—I was the education minister when this was introduced nationwide—these issues were front and centre of the considerations of the education ministerial council at that time and I think it is right for Minister Berry to continue to advocate on this question.
It is perfectly reasonable for Minister Berry to point out, as she has done this evening, her clear and consistent approach to this matter. To have achieved a review of how this data is utilised is an important practical outcome that goes to addressing many of the concerns that those opposite have raised this evening. Anyone in public life has at one point or another not expressed themselves in this place or in a media interview as clearly or as well as they might have liked, with hindsight.
I still remember Mrs Dunne’s infamous 2004 speech about adoption, where she made some comments about people like me that still stand on the public record in this place. That was a very deliberation intervention and a very clear speech that she said at the time was difficult to say but had to be said. She is entitled to put those views on the public record in this place. Fifteen years later she may or may not have changed her mind in relation to those matters.
I understand that the opposition seek to score a political point here, and fair enough. They do not have many wins in this place, so they may as well try tonight on this one. But, in all seriousness, all of us at one point or another have probably not expressed ourselves as clearly as we would hope. The minister has apologised and clarified the point she was attempting to make, which was consistent with the points she has been making for a number of years now.
Being lectured by Mrs Dunne on these sorts of things just is a bit rich. She, like me and like most of you, has at one point or another not expressed herself well or misspoken. We come into this place or in another context—in front of the media—and we apologise, we correct the record and we move on. That is exactly what Minister Berry has done.
This seems to me to be a level of pointscoring that befits the fact that we are 48 hours from federal election day and reflects what has been a tough week for the opposition, where they are looking to score some political points at 25 minutes past 6.
Mrs Jones: Every week’s a tough week.
MR BARR: Every week is a tough week for the opposition; that is true. A point you make regularly and a point that is understood. I think even Mrs Dunne might have famously said to me one day that even the worst day in government is better than the best day in opposition.
Mrs Dunne: I don’t know that I did.
MR BARR: I think you did, actually.
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