Page 1838 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 30 May 1990
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to the preschool task force that was established by the former Government. When will the preschool task force report be presented to him? How much money is he aiming to save from the preschool recurrent budget? When would any restructuring of the preschool sector begin?
MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mr Connolly for his question. Yesterday in the basement I was asked when the task force will be reporting, and I indicated at that stage that I believe it will be at the end of next month. I may be wrong in that. I will certainly check and give Mr Connolly further advice if that is not the correct reporting date. I expect it to be reporting by about the end of next month.
As to when savings might be made, that is entirely dependent on what recommendations the committee makes, as he will probably be aware. In the previous Government his predecessor as a member of the Assembly appointed the task force to identify ways of making savings in the preschool area, specifically to examine the question of closing a number of preschools. I will have to examine that report before I indicate what course of action the Government will take from it. Naturally, also, that means that it will be impossible for me to indicate to what extent the Government would want to make savings in the area of preschools. Obviously, we would have to be satisfied that savings could be made in that area without threatening the quality of preschool education.
Priorities Review Board
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I direct a question to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts. On what basis did the Priorities Review Board make the claim that "the school community has indicated that it would prefer decisions to be made and implemented without undue delay"?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, this is like the question directed to the Chief Minister on the subject of the Priorities Review Board. I do not have an insight into the workings of the minds of those who sat on the board. I have to say that I tend to agree with their assessment that there is certainly a strong desire on the part of many in the education community - indeed, many representing them such as the people in the ACT Teachers Federation, the P and C councils and so on - that there be a swift resolution following the period of uncertainty that they are currently facing. I have no desire to see that uncertainty lengthened at all, if I can possibly avoid it.
I think we have to take that comment at face value. That is an assessment by people, some of whom are members of the Canberra community. I will certainly do my best to see whether that is the genuine view of the community and, if it is, to ensure that it occurs.
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