Page 1401 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 1 May 1990
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are also hosting two national conferences this year promoting the International Year of Literacy. We are publishing a book of students' writing, from kindergarten to year 12. There are activities promoting the practice of parents and children reading together and activities involving students reading around a different theme each month.
Mr Wood: And making it harder for little kids to get to preschool.
MR HUMPHRIES: No, Mr Wood. I can assure the Assembly that the Alliance Government's commitment to literacy is a long-term one and that, with the outcome of the green paper, we intend to build on the ongoing programs and the special projects of the International Year of Literacy to ensure that the ACT maintains the highest possible standards of literacy.
ACT Court System
MR CONNOLLY: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. What action has he taken to resolve the apparent dispute between the Chief Justice of this Territory and the Attorney-General in relation to the radical restructuring of the court system which has been announced by the Attorney with no consultation with the profession or the wider community?
MR KAINE: I have not been involved in the negotiations leading to the transfer of the court system on 1 July. That is correctly and properly within the jurisdiction of the Attorney-General.
I do not believe there is any great dispute involved in this matter but, if I thought that there were, I would certainly become involved. I do not believe that there is any disputation that is beyond the capability and the competence of the Attorney-General to resolve. There is still some time before the due date on which the court system is to transfer. It is regrettable that the Commonwealth, against the advice of this Government, has appointed two magistrates, which this Government believed should not occur until the court system transferred to us on 1 July.
Ms Follett: They don't trust you.
MR KAINE: The Leader of the Opposition talks about trust. We have a Commonwealth that has given us self-government yet is not prepared to permit us to exercise the prerogatives of self-government. It did it to the previous Government on the eve of its taking office in May last year. The Commonwealth took a couple of very significant decisions then, and it is continuing to do it.
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