Page 1174 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 24 April 1990
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Education Department
MR BERRY: My question is directed to Mr Humphries in his portfolio responsibility for education. Following on from his signalled attack on the schools system, I would like to ask: what is the effect on morale in the Education Department following the dispute within the Government about the department's relocation to Tuggeranong?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I am not aware of any problem with morale in the Department of Education. I think Mr Berry might like to consult his own rumourmongers to ascertain the source of these sorts of rumours. I am not aware of any problems in that regard. The Government is, as I think I have said on a previous occasion in answer to a question, considering moving some of the department's officers down to the Tuggeranong Valley. A move of sorts has already occurred, or is about to occur, to the Centrepoint building in Tuggeranong. The Government is considering whether that move should occur and what the nature of the move should be. I can say that the Department of Education is the prime candidate to occupy the Long Service Leave Board building, as I think it is called, in the Tuggeranong town centre. Issues are yet to be resolved. As soon as they are resolved I will be happy to come back to the Assembly and explain all the details to Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. I am not very pleased to see that the Minister has got his blinkers on. If he wants to find out about the morale of his department he ought to get a bit closer to them.
My supplementary question is this: Does the Minister agree with Dr Kinloch that moving the central office of administration of the department to the Tuggeranong area is detrimental to the welfare of education?
MR HUMPHRIES: I think that is a question that assumes there are only disadvantages in such a move and there are no advantages.
Mr Berry: I asked you: do you agree with Dr Kinloch?
MR HUMPHRIES: I do not want to answer the question the way you want me to answer it, Mr Berry. I want to tell you - - -
Mr Berry: You do not agree.
MR HUMPHRIES: I see advantages and disadvantages in such a move and it is the balance of those factors that the Government is presently weighing up. When we have a decision, we will come and tell you.
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