Page 1834 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 30 May 1990
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MR KAINE: No, I cannot answer that question. The Priorities Review Board did its work. It took advice from consultants and it put that report to me last Friday. I have not analysed every inch, or every centimetre - whatever the measurement is these days - of every page, so I cannot answer the question offhand. However, I am sure that the calculations are in the board's report or the consultant's report somewhere. If Ms Follett cannot analyse it, I will get the information and provide it at a later date.
Preschools
MR STEVENSON: My question is addressed to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts. Has he or his department considered saving money in the school system by adopting a suggestion, put to me by a constituent, that preschools be combined with primary schools that have low numbers, so that preschool areas could be developed for, say, town houses?
MR HUMPHRIES: It probably is not appropriate that I comment on that possibility in detail. That is a suggestion which I have heard before, and it does emerge from the report of the Priorities Review Board which was released yesterday. It is an idea to which I believe some people have addressed their minds and to which I believe the Government will have to address its mind. I cannot comment on whether it will be a feasible idea. I acknowledge some strengths and some problems with the suggestion. However, as with most of the suggestions being put forward by the board, the Government will be examining those proposals and identifying whether it is feasible to pursue those ideas in order to save money in education and other budgets.
Independent Living Centre
MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts because he is well known for his involvement in the closure of schools and the inability to answer questions in relation to costs. Was the space occupied by the Independent Living Centre at Macquarie school included in the 13,000 so-called vacant places in ACT government schools?
MR HUMPHRIES: I cannot answer that question without taking it on notice because the review of the number of places in the government system was not conducted since I have been Minister or since the ACT has had self-government. It was conducted by the Federal Labor Government between 1987 and 1988. I cannot, therefore, answer that question. However, I am very happy to supply Mr Berry with any information that he requires on that school.
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