Page 2339 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 1 November 1989
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As to the question of consultation in relation to closures or amalgamations, the Government is committed to consultation.
He then went on to mention the Chase committee report. I want to remind members that my question was whether he would confirm that no preschool would close unless the preschool community agreed. That was a very simple question. It was not complex. It could easily have been answered with a yes or a no. But the house has heard what he said in response to that. He went on further. Mr Collaery then took a point of order, saying that "yes" or "no" would suffice. Again he continued and said, "I will finish, Mr Speaker".
I asked as a supplementary question whether the Minister would confirm that no preschool will close unless the preschool community agrees. The Minister said:
I have quoted to you the approach to this matter which has been recommended by the Chase committee report. The Chase committee report is quite clear. It has recommended an approach to this matter, and in relation to the amalgamations of preschools that is the course which not only do we intend to adopt but which we are adopting at this moment.
That is what the Minister said. There was no answer to that question there, and there has been no answer to the question I asked until today.
I want to place on record the fact that, quite frankly, there is a limit to the tolerance of the opposition. Ministers simply refuse to answer questions. That is what it amounts to - a refusal to answer questions. So, as I said, I am pleased to see that the Government has at last clearly provided an answer to that question. I will certainly be communicating that answer to members of preschool societies and the preschool communities, but I indicate quite clearly that it is very important for the Assembly to pass this motion today conveying in no uncertain terms our view - that is, the Assembly's view - of how the Government ought to proceed with the handling of this issue, how it ought to clear up the ambiguities, doubts and fears which have been generated in the preschool communities, by stating clearly and unequivocally its position with respect to preschools and how it is going to proceed.
MR WOOD (4.43): I could spend my time, along with others, telling the Assembly how wonderful our preschools are and what great things go on in them. In the 10 minutes I have I could say how important or how necessary they are for the development of the young children who attend them. I could even get a little anecdotal, too, and tell members about some of the very enjoyable experiences I have had in our
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